The Kremlin has reportedly cut fuel and fuel product exports to Estonia amid escalating rows over the Baltic state's decision to move a monument to the Red Army and its soldiers that died in World War II, according to Reuters.
It has been reported that Russia’s state-owned rail monopoly RzHD suddenly ceased its oil exports to Estonian ports, claiming that it needed to carry out maintenance work on its rail network to the country.
According to the Times Online, Russia sends a quarter of its oil products exports, which include diesel and gasoline, to Estonia by rail. Around 25 million tonnes of the products are then re-exported to northern Europe through Estonian ports.
In addition, Reuters reported coal exporters as confirming that RzHD had also stopped exporting steam coal from Estonian ports for the duration of May, blaming the decision on a shortage of railway wagons. The lost month’s supply totals up to 900,000 tonnes of stream coal, Reuters said.
While the rail monopoly has staunchly denied that it has imposed fuel sanctions on Estonia, Reuters has reported that the move has renewed fears that the Kremlin is using it vast oil supplies as a political weapon.
Indeed, the publication cited US vice president Dick Cheney as accusing the Russian government of using its reserves as a weapon of intimidation and blackmail. Reuters also reported that this is not the first time that Russia has cut off oil supplies amid political disputes, adding that each previous time the move has similarly been blamed on technical or commercial reasons.