Chinese refineries have recently purchased 15 cargoes of Russian oil for delivery in October and November, stepping in as Indian demand for Russian crude declines. The shift comes after Indian state refiners paused Russian oil imports due to shrinking discounts, leaving China to secure more Urals and Varandey crude. Analysts suggest this increased Russian supply could reduce Chinese interest in more expensive Middle Eastern oil, potentially affecting regional markets. However, experts caution that China may not absorb all the surplus Russian oil, and refiners remain wary of possible United States sanctions if diplomatic efforts over Ukraine falter.