Lithuania to halt transit of Russian oil cargo to Kaliningrad

Vilnius — Lithuania’s state railway operator has announced it will suspend the transit of all oil cargo belonging to Russian energy giants LUKOIL and Rosneft to the Kaliningrad region, marking a new escalation in the region’s tense geopolitical situation.

According to the operator, the ban will take full effect after a transition period allowing for the completion of existing contracts. Once this period ends, all transit of LUKOIL and Rosneft cargo through Lithuania will cease entirely.

The company clarified that it does not hold direct contracts with either Russian oil firm; instead, shipments are managed by private freight forwarders.

In 2023, Lithuanian Railways transported over 370,000 tons of oil products to Kaliningrad, with 345,000 tons belonging to LUKOIL, representing a significant share of Lithuania’s transit revenue — income the state will now forgo.

The move is expected to heighten tensions with Moscow. Russia has previously warned that any restriction on access to Kaliningrad — its exclave surrounded by NATO countries — would be viewed as a “red line” and a provocationagainst its citizens in the region.

Analysts say the measure could trigger a new diplomatic confrontation between Lithuania and Russia, as the European Union and NATO continue to navigate the delicate balance between economic sanctions and regional stability.