Russia’s oil exports drop by 1.8 mln tonnes in April amid port strikes and sanctions – Vlasiuk

Russia lost about 1.8 million tonnes of oil exports in April as a result of sanctions pressure and strikes on key Baltic ports, though the country is working to offset the shortfall through alternative routes.

Vladyslav Vlasiuk, the President’s Commissioner for Sanctions Policy, stated this in comments to Ukrinform.

“There is a tangible impact of sanctions pressure on Russian oil exports – primarily a reduction in the Baltic direction,” Vlasiuk noted.

He emphasized that, according to the Institute for Black Sea Strategic Studies, Russia’s oil exports in April fell by 16.8%, or nearly 1.8 million tonnes, compared with March, following “kinetic sanctions” on the ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga.

“This is a direct effect of targeting key export infrastructure,” the Presidential Commissioner stressed.

At the same time, he said, Russia is seeking to compensate for these losses through other routes, particularly the Black Sea, where it is attempting to increase shipments.

Read also: Defense Forces strike two vessels of Russian shadow fleet at Novorossiysk Port entrance

“This means that sanctions pressure is having an impact, leading to a reduction in Russia’s oil export volumes,” Vlasiuk explained.

As reported earlier, Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries and ports have set back Russia’s refining industry to the level of December 2009, according to ISW.