Tanker with Russian oil Photo: Garry2014 / Shutterstock
An authoritative source confirmed it: The Kremlin is once again circumventing Western sanctions.
Russian oil flows are growing again – and this is an alarming signal. According to Bloomberg, the sanctioned vessels that were supposed to be frozen have resumed transporting oil from Russian ports. This is happening against the backdrop of the new White House administration’s restrained stance, which is in no hurry to impose new sanctions on Russia’s energy exports.
Over the past four weeks, Russian oil exports have reached 3.26 million barrels per day, up 190,000 barrels from the previous period. Analysts estimate that at least 18 of the 39 tankers previously on the US sanctions list are now actively sailing the sea routes again, transporting oil from Russia.
“Washington’s silence can be interpreted as a signal of permission. And Russia is taking advantage of it,” experts say in a commentary for Bloomberg.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin continues to make money. In just one week, export revenues increased by $50 million, reaching $1.33 billion. Prices for Urals and ESPO grades rose by $0.90 and $1.50 per barrel, respectively. At the same time, experts note that Russia is disguising some of the volumes as transit oil from Kazakhstan (KEBCO), mixing it with its own.
This is another example of how the Putin regime is trying to circumvent global restrictions and finance the war in Ukraine through grey energy trade schemes.
