Russian oil getting into UK via refinery loophole, reports claim

Research suggests that the UK is still importing millions of barrels of fuel produced from Russian oil, despite sanctions related to the conflict in Ukraine.

A reported “loophole” allows Russian crude to be processed in countries like India, and the resulting products are then sold to the UK.

While this practice is not illegal and does not violate the UK’s ban on Russian oil, critics argue that it undermines sanctions designed to limit Russia’s financial support for the war.

The UK government refutes claims of any Russian oil imports since 2022. However, a spokesperson clarified that internationally recognised “rules of origin” consider crude refined in another country as originating from that refining nation for trade purposes.