As the war in Ukraine drags into its fourth year, a surprising and troubling reality has emerged:
Western countries, especially in Europe, are indirectly funding Russia’s military campaign by continuing to buy vast amounts of Russian oil and gas.
Even with sanctions and public outrage, the money flowing to Moscow from energy sales dwarfs the military aid being sent to Kyiv.
Billions Flowing to Moscow from European Fossil Fuel Imports
New research from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) reveals some eye-opening numbers.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the Kremlin has raked in nearly £700 billion from hydrocarbon exports.
Meanwhile, aid to Ukraine from Western countries totals about £230 billion over the same period.
Breaking that down further, countries that have imposed sanctions have still paid Russia around £192 billion for fossil fuels — with the European Union alone responsible for £176 billion of that sum.
Why Russia’s Energy Income Matters for the War
Experts warn that this massive income stream is crucial for keeping Russia’s war machine running.
Mai Rosner from the advocacy group Global Witness points out that many Western governments seem more focused on avoiding higher fuel prices than on cutting off Russian energy imports.
She told the BBC, “There’s no real desire in many governments to actually limit Russia’s ability to produce and sell oil.
The fear of disrupting global energy markets is just too great, so they draw a line they don’t want to cross.”
The Challenge of Sanctioning Russian Gas
Russian gas still made up 19 percent of the EU’s imports last year, including significant supplies through the TurkStream pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia.
While the EU could theoretically ban all Russian gas with a sanction, this requires unanimous agreement from all 27 member countries — a tough political hurdle.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has admitted that Russian oil and gas have largely escaped the harshest sanctions.
Concerns about escalating the war and the short-term cost of cutting off fuel have kept those restrictions limited.
New Plans to Reduce EU Dependence on Russian Fuel
In June, EU leaders plan to put forward new proposals aimed at reducing the bloc’s reliance on Russian energy.
Unlike past measures, these could be approved by a majority vote rather than requiring consensus.
Most EU members, except Hungary and Slovakia, have indicated support for the plan, though some remain worried about how it could affect energy prices across Europe.
Sneaky Routes: Gas via Turkey and Oil Laundering in Third Countries
Meanwhile, Russian gas continues to pour into Europe through Turkey, with deliveries rising nearly 27 percent in the first two months of 2025 compared to last year.
On the oil side, Russian crude is often sent to refineries in countries like Turkey and India — dubbed “laundromat refineries” by CREA — where it’s processed and then exported to sanctioning countries.
These refiners have handled over £5 billion worth of Russian oil to produce fuels that end up back in Western markets, effectively circumventing sanctions.
Legal Loopholes and Political Pushback
Vaibhav Raghunandan, a CREA analyst, explains that these countries know sanctioning nations tolerate this practice.
“It’s a loophole, completely legal, and everyone is aware, but no one is tackling it seriously.”
India, in particular, has pushed back strongly against accusations that it’s acting as a “laundromat” for Russian oil.
The country’s petroleum ministry called such claims misleading and emphasized India’s sovereign right to trade within international law.
They highlighted that India imports energy from various countries, including Russia, without apology.
The Bigger Picture: Energy Politics vs. War Realities
This situation highlights a complex balancing act.
While Western governments want to support Ukraine and punish Russia, they’re also trying to avoid disrupting energy supplies and causing price spikes at home.
That tension is keeping Russia’s energy profits high, prolonging the conflict and raising tough questions about the true cost of Europe’s energy dependence.