Sofia, 1 March 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Bulgaria has halted imports of Russian crude oil ahead of schedule under measures enacted in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The ban on Russian oil imports affects the oil refinery Lukoil Neftochim, located west of the Bulgarian port city of Burgas on the Black Sea. The refinery is mostly owned by the Russian oil and mining giant Lukoil.

Russian crude oil will be replaced by supplies from Kazakhstan, Iraq and Tunisia, according to a report in the Bulgarian newspaper 24 Chassa.

Bulgaria's import ban was introduced at the end of 2023, despite a special waiver to European Union sanctions against Russia that would have allowed Bulgaria to continue importing Russian crude oil until October 1.

By banning Russian oil imports, the Bulgarian government is seeking to deny Lukoil and the Russian government profits that might be used to fund the war.

Bulgaria also stopped receiving Russian natural gas in 2022, when Russian state energy company Gazprom cut off deliveries following the Bulgarian government's refusal to pay for gas in Russian roubles.

Prior to 2022, Bulgaria had been almost completely dependent on Russia gas for energy supplies.

MIA file photo