Lithuanian Railways (LTG) earlier this month notified Russia’s Kaliningrad railways of termination of the transit of some goods, sanctioned by the European Union (E.U.) as of June 18, Russia’s Prime news agency reported, citing the Governor of the Russian Kaliningrad enclave, Anton Alikhanov, on June 17.
The transit of oil products to the Kaliningrad Region will continue until August 10. Kaliningrad is nestled between Lithuania and Poland.
Alikhanov estimated that about 40-50% of all the cargoes transported from the Kaliningrad Region to other Russian regions would be impacted. Some Russian cargoes, including some fertilizers, are also exported via the Russian enclave, which has a Baltic Sea coastline. Some of Uralkali PJSC’s potash is understood to be shipped by Kaliningrad.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, commenting that Lithuania’s decision has “an element of a blockade,” said the decision to stop transit of some goods through the Kaliningrad Region is “unprecedented” and is seen by Russia as “illegal,” Interfax reported.
Peskov said everything in the E.U. sanctions list has been banned. He said Russia will redistribute the logistics chains for these goods using ferries and deliveries by the sea
Moscow is reported to be considering retaliation if Lithuania does not “swiftly” reverse its decision.