Russia Monitor Articles
OPEC+ Did Not Give In To Output-Increasing Pressure
In the shortest meeting in its history, OPEC+ decided to increase the collective production by 400,000 barrels per day (bpd). The ministers of the OPEC+ alliance, who met via video conference, agreed in just 16 minutes on the monthly production hike. The decision to keep the gradual output increase despite growing global demand made oil prices soar rapidly. The leaders of OPEC+, which are Saudi Arabia and Russia, will each have a quota of 10.331 million bpd in March.
Russia, China Extend Gas Cooperation
As Russian President Vladimir Putin went to China to attend the opening of the Winter Olympics, he signed a pile of economic deals with China, also on energy. A gas supply deal was inked, among other contracts.
Russia, Ukraine Stage Parallel Military Drills
Russia and Belarus have begun joint military drills dubbed the Allied Resolve 2022, moving up 30,000 troops to the theater in the country’s south near the Ukrainian border. At the same time, Ukraine kickstarted its Blizzard 2022 military exercise in the northern part of the country that borders Belarus. On February 13, Russia will start maneuvers in the south, close to Ukrainian waters.
Russia Ramps Up Amphibious Landing Capacities In Black Sea
A flotilla of Russian amphibious ships of the Northern Fleet and the Baltic Fleet passed to the Black Sea, which makes a navy operation against Ukraine quite likely. But it is just the beginning of Russia’s massive navy buildup––by deploying some of its vessels, the Russian navy seems to plan a deterrence strategy against NATO forces.
UK Plans To Tighten Policy Towards Russia
The UK’s diplomatic offensive has taken Moscow aback, as evidenced by the Kremlin’s response to London’s plan to broaden the scope of sanctions on Russia. It was followed by some strong declarations from Boris Johnson ahead of his visit to Kyiv and reports of the creation of a trilateral British-Polish-Ukrainian alliance.
How Much Is It For Gazprom To Transit Gas Through Belarus?
Russian state-run gas company Gazprom informed about the cost of gas transit through Belarus, which is a tenth of the revenue from gas deliveries to consumers across Belarus.
Nord Stream 2 Sanctions Make U.S. Determined, Germans Split
Faced with criticism from countries worldwide and U.S. pressure, Berlin slightly adjusted its stance to sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 gas link if Russia attacked Ukraine. Yet the German government has not made a final decision on the pipeline while the ruling SPD party is in favor of completing the gas link.
After Gas, Russia Is Reducing Oil Deliveries To EU
In February, Russia’s Transneft will decrease its oil deliveries from European ports into EU countries by 14 percent. Among those most targeted will be the Baltic states, Finland, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Gazprom Neft Seeks To Increase Hydrocarbon Output By A Third
Gazprom Neft plans to boost hydrocarbon production by almost a third, the company’s CEO Alexander Dyukov said. Nonetheless, Russia is no longer able to keep pace with the OPEC+ supply deal.
Russia Seeks For New Hydrocarbon Deposits And Struggles To Extract Crude
All eyes of Russian oil and gas companies are now on East Siberia, which is the only remaining part of the country that is rich in easily extractable hydrocarbons. At the same time, oil firms are forced to look for new deposits as they have no chance to meet the declared targets once confronted with available resources.
Russian Navy Ships Hold Drills In Norwegian Sea
Vessels of Russia’s Northern Fleet have completed anti-submarine drills in the Norwegian Sea, the Russian defense ministry said on January 31. This is yet another manifestation of Russian naval drills: the country’s vessels left their bases to practice warfare in many places around the world.
Russia Supplies Record Natural Gas To Turkey Via Blue Stream
Russian energy company Gazprom Export announced a record high export volume of natural gas to Turkey via the Blue Stream gas pipeline in 2021. The gas giant said this stemmed from growing demand. This highlights Moscow’s political purpose in cutting gas flows into the EU for the past six months.
Could Russia Attempt A Sea Blockade Of Ukraine?
Southern Ukraine is particularly vulnerable to a Russian attack. First, a massive military force is stationed in Russian-occupied Crimea. Secondly, Russia enjoys an overwhelming advantage at sea. Possibly the Kremlin will block the Kerch Strait and sea routes running to Ukrainian sea ports west of Crimea, notably Odesa. A non-military blockade could eventually bring the Ukrainian economy to its knees.
Russian Invasion Could Begin In Donbas
Recent days brought more reports that Moscow’s aggression against Ukraine may begin in Donbas. Russia has started a military buildup in what is known as people’s republics and is now laying the political groundwork for an armed intervention in southeastern Ukraine.
Warsaw Institute
