UK Sanctions Russian Company Russneft, Which Sold Oil in Georgia

The UK has imposed sanctions on 24 more Russian companies. The blacklisted oil and gas companies include Tatneft, Russneft, Rusneftegaz, and NNK-Oil. The explanatory notes state they were “obtaining a benefit from or supporting the Government of Russia, through carrying on business in a sector of strategic significance, namely, the Russian energy sector.”

The sanctions entail freezing all UK-based assets of the blacklisted individuals and entities.

It is worth noting that Russneft supplied the first oil cargo to the newly constructed Kulevi oil refinery in Georgia in ​​October 2025. Reuters initially reported this information. The publication wrote that “the tanker Kayseri delivered 105,340 metric tons of Siberian Light oil grade from the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiisk to the Kulevi Oil Terminal on October 6.”

According to the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia, the Panamanian-flagged ship Kayseri entered the port of Kulevi from Russia on October 2 and was carrying around 10,000 tonnes of crude oil. The agency did not reveal the name of the Russian company.

Furthermore, the Revenue Service clarified that international sanctions did not apply to the ship, the company that owns it, or the companies involved in sending and receiving the cargo.

Black Sea Petroleum LLC is building the Kulevi oil refinery in Khobi municipality. The company's founder is a business figure, Maka Asatiani, and the project's investment amount is 700 million US dollars.

A year ago, at a presentation held in October 2024, Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated that this is the largest private investment project in the history of independent Georgia. In September 2025, former Minister of Economy Levan Davitashvili was appointed chairman of the supervisory board of Black Sea Petroleum.

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