London, Thanasis Gavos

At “Mazy” route of Russian oil to the EU market, and even to the US armed forces, in violation of European sanctions, reports the Financial Times.

The report is focused in the role of the terminal in the city of Dertiol of Hatay province in southern Turkey.

As the British newspaper claims, citing an analysis of shipping data, activity at the specific terminal has increased sharply since July 2022, when international trade sanctions against Russia began to be implemented due to the invasion of Ukraine.

“Most of the oil arriving at the terminal by sea is refined oil from Russia, and much of it has since been transported to Europe in violation of EU sanctions, experts who have reviewed the evidence have ruled,” the paper said. It is estimated that in 2023, 10.4 barrels of Russian oil arrived in Dertiol, i.e. 90% of imports by sea.

In total, in 2023, 85% of the oil that left Dertiol ended up in Europe, mainly in Greece (11.1 million barrels), the Netherlands (4 million) and Belgium (1.7 million). The corresponding percentage in 2022 was 53%.

As indicated, US senators have officially expressed concern that “disguised Russian oil” has been used for US warships, having been obtained from Greek refineries where this oil mostly ends up from Dertiol to produce motor fuel.

The publication notes that following international sanctions against Moscow, Turkey has become the third largest importer of Russian oil after India and China and the largest market for refined Russian petroleum products.

He adds that the evidence of Dertiol’s role in the export of Russian oil comes at a time when Turkey’s Western allies have become irritated with the country’s economic ties to Moscow.

However, it should be pointed out that since Turkey does not follow international sanctions and has not prohibited its companies from trading Russian oil, the company that owns the terminal in Dertiol, GTS, does not violate regulations by accepting the cargoes.

The company also disputes figures on the volume of Russian oil it receives, with the newspaper questioning the validity of figures recorded by Turkish customs on the origin of oil imports.