Britain Allows Imports of Fuel Produced from Russian Oil
The United Kingdom has introduced an indefinite license allowing the import of diesel and aviation fuel produced from Russian oil in third countries. The decision by the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) came into force on May 20, 2026. In addition to the supplies themselves, the document legalizes related financial, brokerage, and logistics services. At the same time, the country’s Secretary of State retains the right to revoke the license by giving the market four months’ notice.
London decided to partially ease the sanctions policy launched in 2022 due to the difficult situation on the global energy market. The global energy imbalance, caused by changes in logistics routes in the Middle East and temporary shipping restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, has led to raw material shortages. Previously, around 20% of the world’s oil passed through this strategic corridor, and supply disruptions have affected the world’s largest economies.
The head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Fatih Birol, described the current crisis as the largest in history, exceeding the combined shocks of 1973, 1979, and 1990. According to experts, aviation fuel reserves in Europe are rapidly declining. Meanwhile, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has warned that fuel shortages could trigger mass flight cancellations worldwide.
For the United Kingdom itself, this step became a forced measure to stabilize the domestic market, where gasoline prices at filling stations surged to 158.5 pence per liter, while diesel prices hit a record 185.9 pence. According to analysts from the RAC automobile association, without urgently securing alternative supply channels, fuel prices would have continued to rise uncontrollably, further fueling inflation in the country.
