Russia Halts Kazakh Oil Transit to Germany Amid Ongoing Conflict

• •Russia will halt Kazakh oil transit to Germany starting May 1, 2026.
• •The PCK refinery in Germany will operate at reduced capacity but will not face a supply crisis.
• •The decision is linked to ongoing geopolitical tensions and previous disruptions due to the Ukraine conflict.

On April 22, 2026, Germany's energy ministry announced that Russia plans to stop the flow of Kazakh oil through the Druzhba pipeline to a German refinery starting May 1. The Russian state-owned oil company Rosneft informed German regulators of the suspension, which has not been officially confirmed by Moscow. The decision is attributed to technical capacities and has been coordinated with Kazakhstan, following disruptions linked to Ukrainian drone strikes. The PCK refinery, which supplies fuel to the Berlin region, will operate at reduced capacity but is not expected to face a supply crisis. This move reflects ongoing geopolitical tensions and the impact of the war in Ukraine on energy supplies. Germany has been sourcing Kazakh oil to replace Russian imports since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The German government has taken Rosneft Germany into trusteeship and is seeking a new buyer for the refinery.