In November, Turkey sharply reduced imports of Russian Urals crude oil, cutting supplies by a third compared to October. This was one of the most noticeable consequences of the tightening of Western sanctions against Moscow, which continue to reshape global energy chains. According to data from analytics companies Kpler and LSEG, the volume of Urals oil arriving at Turkish ports fell by 100,000 barrels per day to approximately 200,000 barrels per day. Such changes not only hit Russian exports, but also push Ankara to diversify its sources of supply.
The decline in purchases is directly linked to a series of measures introduced by the US and the EU in recent months. In October, President Donald Trump’s administration imposed sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil giants, Rosneft and Lukoil. These companies, which control a significant portion of Urals exports, were banned, sharply limiting the range of suppliers for Turkish oil refineries.
Added to this is the upcoming EU ban on the purchase of fuel produced from Russian oil. The measure will come into force at the end of January 2026 and is already forcing Turkish companies to restructure. As a major exporter of fuel to Europe, Turkey cannot risk violating these rules. According to experts, this could lead to a further reduction in dependence on Russian raw materials: if pressure intensifies, Ankara is capable of completely abandoning imports from Russia.
Turkey has historically been one of the key buyers of Russian oil since 2022, when Europe refused direct supplies. Since then, the country has ranked second after India among maritime importers of Urals crude. In January-October 2025, Russia provided about 47% of Turkey’s crude oil needs — 317,000 barrels per day out of total imports of 669,000. However, the peak came in June, when volumes reached almost 400,000 barrels per day. November data signals a reversal of the trend.
To compensate for the losses, Turkish refineries stepped up purchases of alternative grades. In November, imports of Kazakh CPC Blend oil rose to a record 105,000 barrels per day, the highest since February 2024. Supplies of Kazakh KEBCO, which is similar in quality to Urals and had not previously attracted Turkish refiners, also increased. In addition, Turkey increased imports of Iraqi Basrah, as well as oil from Libya, Saudi Arabia, and even Brazil.
The actions of the largest players are particularly noteworthy. Turkish giant Turkiye Petrol Rafinerileri AS (Tupras) has begun phasing out Russian oil at one of its plants in order to maintain exports to the EU. Azerbaijan’s SOCAR, which owns the STAR refinery in Izmir, planned four tankers with oil from Iraq and Kazakhstan in December, with a volume of 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day. This will reduce the share of Russian raw materials at the plant, which previously relied on Urals.
For Moscow, this is a blow to the budget: oil and gas account for about 40% of federal budget revenues. Turkey is the third-largest buyer of Russian oil after China and India, and its departure increases the pressure. In November, diesel exports from Russia to Turkey already fell by 19% month-on-month, and oil purchases at times reached zero. Russia is redirecting flows to Africa (Morocco, Tunisia) and Asia, but logistics and prices complicate the task.
A one-third reduction is not the end, but the beginning of a transformation. For Turkey, it opens the door to new partners, reducing the risks of ruble volatility and sanctions. For Russia, it is a signal to seek markets in Asia and Africa, where prices are lower. In 2026, with the entry into force of the EU ban, a further decline is expected: analysts predict a decrease in Turkish imports of Urals to 100,000 barrels per day.
As a result, geopolitics is once again dictating energy policy. Turkey, balancing between East and West, is demonstrating pragmatism: sanctions imposed by Trump and Brussels are accelerating what has been brewing for years. Will Russia remain a reliable supplier, or will Ankara finally turn to the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf? Time will tell, but November 2025 has already gone down in history as a turning point.