Why Oil from Russia Continues to Reach the EU via Turkey
In the Turkish port of Mersin, tankers deliver tens of thousands of barrels of oil products every month, most of which come from Russia. A portion of these shipments is then directed to European Union countries, despite existing Western sanctions.
This is reported by AgroReview
How Sanctions Are Evaded and Why Turkey Is a Key Hub
The supply scheme emerged against the backdrop of sanctions imposed on Russia, aimed at limiting its revenue from energy resource sales and financing the war in Ukraine. The EU is tightening control over Turkish terminals and is considering the possibility of imposing sanctions on ports that serve as channels for Russian fuel. This is part of broader strategies aimed at further pressure on the economy of the Russian Federation, for which energy exports are a key source of income.
“The EU is currently increasing its oversight of this terminal and other similar facilities and is considering imposing sanctions on those ports that it suspects are ‘back doors’ for Russian fuel into Europe. This move is part of broader efforts aimed at increasing pressure on Russia. Energy exports are vital for the Russian economy.”
Journalists note that despite the Western restrictions imposed after the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, a significant amount of Russian oil continues to reach the EU via Turkey. Turkey has become one of the main buyers of Russian oil products after China and India. President Trump urged Turkey and China to stop trading with Russia and imposed tariffs on imports from India.
According to data, in 2025, Turkis Enerji received about 6.5 million barrels of oil products, of which 5.5 million came from Russia, amounting to approximately $500 million. During this period, 4.4 million barrels were exported to the EU, which is four times the volume supplied from other sources. Experts believe that a significant portion of this export contained Russian oil.
At the same time, the CEO of Turkis Enerji, Tufan Ayric, assured that the company did not store fuel from Russia, but declined to comment on client details. Since the imposition of sanctions, Russian refineries have exported over $50 billion worth of fuel to Turkey. According to CREA, this accounts for about 10% of oil and 7% of total energy revenues for Russia during this period. Meanwhile, the volume of supplies from Turkish terminals to the EU has more than doubled to $24 billion.
European Sanctions and Challenges in Their Implementation
The European Union has agreed to stop purchasing Russian liquefied gas by the end of 2026 and pipeline gas by November 2026. One of the most serious restrictions will be the ban on the import of oil products derived from Russian oil in other countries (India, China, Turkey) starting January 21. Importers will have to confirm that the products are not made from Russian raw materials.
However, the implementation and enforcement of such bans are complicated by the extensive network of storage facilities, intermediaries, and refineries that conceal the true origin of the fuel. In Turkey, among the companies involved in transporting Russian oil, there are both lesser-known firms and major players, including Koç Holding (owner of 50% of Opet), the only Turkish representative in the Fortune Global 500.
Analysts emphasize that more stringent measures will be needed to significantly reduce the volume of Russian oil in the global market, including a moratorium on the import of diesel fuel and other products from Turkey. The only reliable way is a complete ban on the import of oil products from countries that use Russian oil. Experts are calling for strong actions both at the level of individual states and the establishment of a unified European body to investigate and monitor such cases.