Türkiye slashes Russian oil imports amid Western sanctions

Türkiye’s imports of Russian crude fell sharply in October 2025, declining 12.6% compared with the previous month, according to data from the Turkish Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK).

During the reporting period, Russian exporters delivered approximately 1.46 million tonnes of oil to Türkiye, well below the peak volumes recorded at the start of autumn, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

Overall, between January and October, Russian oil exports to Türkiye fell 5.8% year-on-year, totalling 13.12 million tonnes.

The decline comes amid tighter Western sanctions. In the second half of October 2025, the United States, European Union and the United Kingdom added Russian energy giant Lukoil to their restrictive lists, forcing the company to urgently seek buyers for its international assets.

Several potential buyers were rejected by the US Treasury, leaving Lukoil still struggling to offload shares in certain overseas projects.

Sanctions have also complicated maritime shipments of Russian crude to major buyers. Companies in China, India and Türkiye have sought alternative suppliers, causing Russia’s oil export revenues to fall significantly.

The restrictions have weighed on prices for the Urals grade, which fell below $45 per barrel in November for taxation purposes.

The drop in oil and gas revenues is putting pressure on the Russian federal budget, which has faced a widening deficit this year amid rising military expenditure.

Experts say that if global energy prices remain subdued, Russia may have fewer financial resources to continue military operations in Ukraine, potentially increasing pressure on the Kremlin to pursue a peace deal.

By Aghakazim Guliyev