Since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia, according to Russia Fossil Tracker, has made over EUR 800 billion on fossil fuel exports. These measures are crucial to financing the war and to sustain the Russian economy in the face of sanctions imposed by the European Union, the US and the G7 countries. Prior to aggression, part of Russian oil exports were served by western shipping companies, but G7's introduction of a price limit on Russian oil importantly reduced access to the transport fleet from countries officially supporting Ukraine. As a result, Russia had to make an alternate fleet of tankers – frequently outdated, poorly insured and registered in countries with small maritime surveillance. Thanks to them, he skips Western sanctions.
