MOSCOW, July 20 (Reuters) - Rosneft, Russia's

biggest oil producer, on Sunday slammed European Union sanctions

on India's Nayara Energy refinery as unjustified and illegal,

saying the restrictions directly threatened India's energy

security.

The Russian oil giant accused the EU of ignoring

international law and third-country sovereignty, calling the

move part of a broader effort to destabilize global energy

markets and engage in unfair competition.

"The Nayara Energy refinery is a strategically important

asset for the Indian energy industry, providing a stable supply

of petroleum products to the country's domestic market. The

imposition of sanctions against the refinery directly threatens

India's energy security and will have a negative impact on its

economy," Rosneft said.

Rosneft said it is not a controlling shareholder in Nayara,

holding under 50%, with the refinery managed by an independent

board.