Britain has widened a breach in the oil and gas sanctions cordon around Russia by exempting imports of diesel and jet fuel derived from Russian crude but refined in third-party countries. The new rules, effective Wednesday, are of indefinite duration but subject to periodic review and potential amendment or revocation, the British government announced.
Sanctions Loophole Widens
Russian crude oil is shipped to India, Turkey, and other nations where it is refined and re-exported as their own product, complicating enforcement of sanctions. The UK exemption follows a similar US waiver extension, which critics argue allows the Kremlin to earn more revenue to fund the war in Ukraine. Higher fuel costs have exacerbated cost-of-living pressures in Britain.
EU Criticism
An EU official criticized the latest US waiver, announced by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. EU Economics Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis stated, "From the EU point of view, we do not think that this is a time to ease pressure on Russia. Russia is gaining from the war in Iran and the increase in fossil fuel prices. Secretary Bessent reassured us this is temporary, but it is already a second extension of a measure initially meant to last only 30 days."
LNG Licence Issued
Britain also issued a licence for maritime transport of liquefied natural gas from Russia's Sakhalin-2 and Yamal projects, including shipping, financing, and brokering, under Russia sanctions rules, running until 1 January 2027.
Russia Threatens Latvia
The US warned Russia against attacking Latvia after Moscow's UN ambassador threatened "retaliation" over Ukrainian drones. Baltic countries denied claims by Vasily Nebenzya that Ukraine planned to launch drones from their territory. A Romanian F-16 NATO jet shot down a drone over Estonia, likely a case of Russian electronic jamming diverting Ukrainian drones into NATO airspace.
Russia's SVR foreign intelligence service alleged Ukraine planned drone attacks from Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. Nebenzya threatened Latvia, saying "NATO membership will not protect you from retaliation." US Ambassador Tammy Bruce responded, "The United States keeps all of its NATO commitments." Latvia's UN representative Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes dismissed the claims as "lies and aggressive disinformation." Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs denied allowing any country to use Latvian airspace for attacks on Russia.
Funeral for Kyiv Bombing Victims
A funeral was held in Kyiv for sisters Liubava Yakovlieva, 12, and Vira Yakovlieva, 17, killed when a Russian missile struck their apartment building on 14 May, killing 24 people. Their mother Tetiana, the sole surviving family member, sat beside the coffins. Their father Yevhen was killed on the frontline three years ago.
Priest Efrem Khomiak of St Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery said, "This is an unnatural order of things, when parents bury their children. This grief belongs to all Ukraine."
Military Updates
Ukrainian forces struck a Russian refinery and oil pumping station over the past 48 hours, according to Ukraine's general staff. Russia attacked Ukraine with 209 drones overnight, killing five civilians and wounding 24. Five were injured in Dnipro. Industrial areas around Nevinnomyssk in Russia's Stavropol region, home to a large chemical plant, faced drone attacks on Wednesday morning.
