Russian oil cargoes get new safety certifications from India to keep crude flowing as Western sanctions squeeze Moscow

Russia will be able to continue exporting crude after India gives them new safety certifications that will allow them to do so.

More than 80 ships have been certified by the Indian Register of Shipping, one of the world's top classification companies, according to data cited by the news agency.

The new paperwork will allow cheap crude to keep flowing to India and elsewhere, as the South Asian country has become one of the top importers of Russian oil.

As a result of sanctions, the US, UK, Norway, and France have stopped services for Russian cargo. Normally, classification groups certify that ships are safe to travel and allow them to be granted insurance and access to ports.

India has avoided condemning Moscow's actions while increasing purchases of Russian energy supplies on the cheap.

Russian crude accounted for more than a quarter of India's total oil imports last month. Over 40 million barrels of Russian oil have been bought by India since February.