Ukraine may stop purchasing diesel fuel from Constanța

Starting from October 1, 2025, the Ukrainian authorities may completely ban the purchase and sale of diesel fuel supplied from the Romanian port of Constanța, reports Logos Press.

According to Ukrainian media, all deliveries from Constanța in the first two weeks of October will be subject to enhanced control — both maritime and railway. The reason is the large volumes of Indian-origin fuel received in September at the Romanian port — about 200,000 tons.

“Romanian partners asked not to impose sanctions at least for the first two weeks of October, in order to sell off significant remaining stocks of Indian fuel. Ukraine refused,” one major Ukrainian trader told reporters. He added that if new shipments of Indian or other “suspicious” fuel arrive, the reinforced inspection regime may be extended for another two weeks or even a month.

At the same time, Romanian press reports that the Constanța Port Authority is holding talks with major concessionaires — Vitol, Oscar, Socar, Euronova — to work out a common position on refusing “toxic” import routes, in order to maintain supplies to Ukraine. In 2025, Ukraine accounted for 47% of Constanța’s cargo turnover.

It is also expected that Turkey, which is responsible for a significant share of Constanța’s cargo flows, may be included in the list of “undesirable directions”.

Ukraine’s concerns are linked to the absence of guarantees that diesel fuel produced in India or Turkey does not originate from Russian oil mixed with other grades.

If this scenario is implemented, Moldova will also be affected, as part of the diesel supplies from Romania to Ukraine are transported by rail through its territory, reducing transit revenues for CFM.

Comment by the Institute of Danube Research.

The IDR believes that the Constanța case is indicative of the broader system of Black Sea–Danube energy and logistics routes. Ukraine has legitimate grounds to strengthen control over supplies as part of its energy security and sanctions policy against shadow flows of Russian energy resources.

On the other hand, a sharp restriction of supplies from Constanța could lead to a shortage of diesel fuel and price increases on Ukraine’s domestic market, as well as tensions in relations with Romania and Moldova, which are directly or indirectly involved in these routes.

According to IDR experts, the optimal solution would be to introduce selective sanctions: banning only those shipments that cannot prove the origin of crude oil from non-sanctioned countries, while at the same time preserving the critically important logistics corridor through Constanța.