Russia plans to stop oil exports from Kazakhstan to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline from May 1, 2026, a move that threatens the PCK refinery in Schwedt, which supplies the vast majority of diesel, petrol and heating oil for Berlin.

The PCK refinery, about 100 kilometers north of Berlin, was previously run by Russian oil major Rosneft; the German government seized its operations after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Since 2022 the refinery has been importing increasing volumes of Kazakh crude, transported from Kazakhstan across Russian territory to Berlin.

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy confirmed that Rosneft Germany informed the Federal Network Agency, acting as trustee, that “following instructions from the Russian Ministry of Energy, the transit of Kazakh crude oil through the Druzhba pipeline across Russian territory to the PCK refinery is prohibited as of May 1, 2026.” The Russian Federation has not yet formally confirmed the measure to the German government. Rosneft Germany is assessing implications and will adapt to any changes, the ministry said. Reuters first reported the news on April 21.

PCK supplies Berlin and the surrounding region with more than 90% of their petrol, diesel and heating fuel. The refinery is not entirely dependent on Kazakh oil: since 2022 most of its oil has come via seaborne deliveries through ports such as Rostock and from Poland rather than the Druzhba pipeline. Still, about 17% of the nearly 12 million metric tons a year processed by PCK currently arrives via Druzhba, and a complete halt to that link would force Schwedt to operate at reduced capacity.

A ministry spokesperson said the cessation of Kazakh oil deliveries does not ultimately jeopardize Germany’s supply of petroleum products, though PCK would face significant challenges. The ministry added that Rosneft Germany, now under German state control, would “fulfil its obligations” and use existing options to ensure security of supply. PCK did not respond to requests for comment.

The announcement comes amid one of the most serious global energy crises in decades. The war in Iran and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz have reduced flows to Europe and Asia and driven prices up. Kerosene — a key PCK product used for jet fuel — is in short supply, contributing to airlines cutting services; Lufthansa recently trimmed about 20,000 flights from its May to October schedule citing fuel constraints.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has repeatedly leveraged energy exports as a tool of influence. The EU has moved to reduce dependence on Russian fuels: Russian gas accounted for 45% of EU gas imports before the war and fell to 12% in 2025, while oil dependence dropped from 27% to 2%. The REPowerEU Regulation aims to end Russian oil and gas imports by 2027.

Benjamin Hilgenstock, senior economist at the Kyiv School of Economics, said the move underscores Russia’s continued ability to threaten European energy security and urged the EU and Germany to complete the exit from Russian fossil fuels without delay.

The Kremlin has not officially commented on the Druzhba transit ban. President Vladimir Putin recently asked his government to explore options for cutting energy supplies to Europe, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov criticized the EU for persisting with sanctions. Kazakhstan’s Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov suggested the pipeline closure could also stem from technical problems caused by Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.

Kazakhstan began sending crude to Schwedt in January 2023, a shift that helped the refinery pivot away from near-exclusive reliance on Russian oil. PCK remains owned by Russia but is run by Germany; it has been exempted from US sanctions on Rosneft to allow continued operations. That exemption, extended in March without a specified end date, was granted after intense German lobbying in view of the refinery’s strategic importance. Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru

Russia plans to halt transit of Kazakh crude to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline from May 1, threatening supplies to a refinery that provides the vast majority of diesel, petrol and heating oil for Berlin.

The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy told DW that Rosneft Germany informed the Federal Network Agency—acting as trustee—that, on instructions from the Russian Ministry of Energy, Kazakh crude may no longer be shipped through Russian territory to the PCK refinery in Schwedt as of May 1, 2026. The Russian government has not formally notified Germany; Rosneft Germany is assessing the implications and said it will adapt to any changes.

PCK Raffinerie in Schwedt, about 100 km north of Berlin, was formerly run by Rosneft before the German state seized operations after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Since 2022 the refinery has increased imports of Kazakh crude transported across Russia. While most of PCK’s feedstock now arrives by sea via ports such as Rostock and through Poland, roughly 17% of the nearly 12 million tonnes the refinery processes annually still travels by Druzhba. A complete cut in pipeline deliveries would force PCK to reduce output but, according to the ministry, would not ultimately endanger Germany’s overall supply of petroleum products.

Rosneft Germany, now under German control, said it will fulfil obligations and use available options to maintain supply. PCK did not respond to requests for comment. The development comes amid a wider energy crunch: the war in Iran and disruption of the Strait of Hormuz have constrained flows and pushed prices higher. Kerosene shortages have particularly affected airlines, prompting carriers such as Lufthansa to cut thousands of flights.

Analysts note Russia has repeatedly used energy exports as leverage since the 2022 invasion, and these moves underscore that Europe remains vulnerable until imports and transit through Russia fully cease. The EU has sharply reduced its dependence on Russian energy: gas imports fell from about 45% to 12% by 2025 and oil from about 27% to 2%. The REPowerEU initiative seeks to end Russian fossil-fuel imports completely by 2027.

Moscow has not formally commented on the latest action. President Vladimir Putin recently urged the government to consider measures to cut energy supplies to Europe. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has criticized the EU for continuing sanctions and rejecting Russian oil despite the Middle East crisis. Kazakhstan’s energy minister suggested pipeline closures could also stem from technical damage after Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.

Kazakhstan began sending crude to Schwedt in January 2023, replacing the refinery’s near-exclusive reliance on Russian oil. PCK’s shift to alternative sources since 2022 suggests it may find other supplies if Druzhba transit is stopped for good.

The refinery remains owned by Russia but operated by Germany and has been exempted from US sanctions aimed at Rosneft; that exemption, which was due to expire on April 29, was extended in March without a specified end date.

Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru