This investigation highlights accusations against the UK of indirectly supporting Russia's military actions in Ukraine by purchasing refined oil from countries that process Russian fossil fuels.
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Environmental news site Desmog analyzed government data showing that UK imports of refined oil from India, China, and Turkey reached a record $2.75 billion in 2023, a significant increase from $543 million in 2021. This rise comes despite pledges from Ukraine’s allies to divest from Russian oil and gas following Russia's invasion in 2022.
Read also: Turkey’s Mediterranean oil terminal halts Russian imports amid U.S. sanctions
While the UK officially banned imports of Russian oil products starting December 5, 2022, a legislative loophole has allowed Russian oil to continue entering the UK. The loophole works by allowing Russian oil, once refined in a third-party country, to no longer be classified as Russian, thereby circumventing the trade ban. Consequently, Russian oil is first sold to other countries before being redirected to the UK market.
Read also: Singapore triples imports of Russian oil following EU restrictions
Amid these economic entanglements, Ukraine has ramped up its military response to Russia’s energy infrastructure. In March 2024, Ukrainian forces successfully targeted at least 12 oil refineries in Russia, although this figure does not account for additional strikes by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense's Main Intelligence Directorate.
According to CEO of Gunvor Group Ltd. Torbjörn Thornqvist, Russia lost about 600.000 barrels of daily refining capacity as a result of Ukrainian drone strikes.
Drones attacked the Kursk, Belgorod, Tula, Voronezh, Nizhny Novgorod, Bryansk, Leningrad, and Orel oblasts of Russia, as well as Moscow on March 12.
In Orel, explosions were heard near an oil depot where a fire broke out. Lukoil oil depot in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast was also on fire.
Drones attacked Voronezh, Kursk, Belgorod, Bryansk, Leningrad, and Lipetsk oblasts of Russia, as well as an oil refinery in Ryazan, where a serious fire broke out on March 13.
A fire broke out at two oil refineries in the Samara Oblast of Russia - Russian media reported that attack was carried out by drones on March 16.
A fire also broke out at a plant in Sloviansk-on-Kuban in Krasnodar Krai of Russia on March 17, after drone attack.
Read also: Russian oil price halved after Western sanctions
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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Section: Nation
Author: Владислав Литнарович
