This loophole generated up to €3 billion for Moscow from just three Turkish ports in the 12 months following EU sanctions on Russian oil imports in February 2023.

The practice shows the creative ways Russia circumvents EU sanctions and protects its fossil fuel trade, which accounts for nearly half of the Kremlin’s revenue. Last year, POLITICO revealed that Moscow gained an additional 1 billion euros thanks to a separate loophole in EU sanctions on Bulgaria.

The investigation also comes as relations deteriorate between Brussels and Ankara over its Russian overtures – even as Turkey takes minor steps to align with US sanctions.

OLAF did not immediately respond to a request for comment.