Alghadeer TV Alghadeer TV
Britain has been bypassing its own sanctions against Russia, according to a report, which says it managed to track dozens of shipments of Russian oil into the United Kingdom since March.
The British daily newspaper Sunday Times said in a report that the United Kingdom has purchased at least 39 shipments of Russian oil since Moscow launched its special operation in Ukraine in late February.
Britain has banned the import of Russian oil and oil products into the UK over the conflict in Ukraine.
Citing tanker traffic data and trade statistics, the Times said Russian-origin oil shipments, worth about £200 ($236) million, were reportedly delivered to UK ports after ship-to-ship transfers.
The cargoes, however, were registered as imports from other countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, France and other countries, said the newspaper.
At least 13 of those reportedly arrived in June and July.
Official figures on oil imports from the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS), however, showed Britain received no oil from Russia in those two months.
In Europe, oil and gas shortages stemming from Western sanctions on Russia and a resulting surge in prices have threatened to upend lives and businesses.
The new government of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also faces serious problems to address surging energy prices and prevent future crises from happening, as harsh winter is on the horizon.
