Microsoft restores services to Nayara Energy

New Delhi

Microsoft has restored services to Nayara Energy, a company backed by Russian oil giant Rosneft, two days after Nayara filed a complaint over the sudden service cut. In a statement, Microsoft said it remains committed to supporting customers in India and globally and confirmed that services to Nayara have resumed.

The US tech company is also in discussions with the European Union (EU) to ensure ongoing support for Nayara. Earlier, Nayara Energy approached the Delhi High Court, claiming Microsoft had abruptly and unfairly blocked access to its data and digital tools—actions taken without any prior notice.

Nayara, which runs fuel retail outlets in India, is nearly 49% owned by Rosneft. The rest is controlled by Trafigura and UCP Investment Group through an Indian consortium. Microsoft’s decision to halt services reportedly followed new EU sanctions announced on July 18, which aim to tighten restrictions on Russian-linked companies in response to the war in Ukraine.

The EU’s latest sanctions package targets Russia’s energy, banking, and military sectors. It includes a ban on refined petroleum products made from Russian crude oil, even if exported through third countries—excluding Canada, Norway, Switzerland, the UK, and the US.

Nayara argued that Microsoft’s actions were unilateral and risked disrupting business operations. The court petition sought immediate service restoration to protect access to important systems. The matter now continues in diplomatic and legal forums, with focus on balancing international compliance with business continuity in India.