Latvia and Lithuania pledge for collective effort on Russian rail ban
The ministers of transport from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania met for the first time in four years to discuss the ban on the transit of Russian and Belarussian goods on 23 January. Estonia, via its...Read more
Finland’s VR will stop rail freight traffic to Russia by the end of the year
VR Group, the Finnish state-owned railway company, said it will stop the transportation of goods to Russia by the end of 2022. In April, VR Group claimed that rail freight traffic between the two countries would...Read more
Where does Kaliningrad traffic stand currently?
UPDATEDevelopments regarding rail freight traffic to and from Kaliningrad via Lithuania peaked during the summer, but the situation has stabilised. In the sanctions’ aftermath, volumes have dropped, payments must be taken care of by customers...Read more
Estonia wants to sanction RZD, but its rail sector does not agree
In the wake of a new sanction round on Russia by the EU, the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs proposed direct sanctions on Russian Railways, which would mean the complete stoppage of business between Estonian...Read moreSanctions hit core operations of Estonian Railways
Estonian national rail operator Eesti Raudtee claims it lost over 20 million euros in 2022, mostly due to the sanctions that the EU applied on Russia and Belarus. The Estonian government is ready to mitigate...Read moreKaliningrad trains to run for three more weeks but their future fickle
UPDATEThe issue of train transit between Russia and Kaliningrad via Lithuania seems to be reaching some kind of stability. After consulting with the Financial Crimes Investigation Service (FNTT), Lithuanian Railways managed to secure a three-week-long...Read morePayments for Kaliningrad rail transit still possible but more complex
UPDATEThe Kaliningrad rail transit series has a new episode. The Financial Crimes Investigation Service (FNTT) scrutinised Lithuania’s payment possibilities with Russian and Belarusian entities, concluding that “each case for mutual services and incoming or outgoing...Read more
Russia exceeds EU quotas for Kaliningrad in just two months
Tensions between Russia and Lithuania have increased since the EU sanctioned the land transit of goods, including steel and concrete, from Russia and Belarus to Kaliningrad. According to Russia, the quotas established by the EU...Read more
Another chapter for the Kaliningrad story
Šiaulių Bankas promised to stop all transactions with between Lithuania and Russia and Belarus before the fall. It is the only Lithuanian bank that still carries out payments with the two countries.Read more
To ban or not to ban? Lithuania’s internal struggles concerning Kaliningrad
Despite the European Commission lifting the ban on Kaliningrad, Kęstutis Budrys, the Lithuanian president’s chief advisor on national security, says Lithuania should not upgrade or repair its Russian-gauge rail tracks.Read more
Kaliningrad-bound trains back on track after sanction update
UPDATEThe first Kaliningrad-bound train from Russia reached the Lithuanian border on Tuesday, 26 July. After a few weeks of uncertainty, this train marks the restoration of rail freight traffic between Russia and its exclave.Read more
Sanctions on Russia to stay in place at least until the start of 2023
The European Council decided on 26 July to extend the existing economic sanctions on Russia by six months until 31 January 2023. This six-month extension could prolong even more if the situation does not stabilise...Read more
Russian Railways Far East transport reaches record volumes
The recovery trend that Russian Railways follow after the initial shock by the EU and US sanctions keeps going strong. The state-owned company says that transported volumes to Far East ports reached record numbers in...Read more
Russian Railways calls the EU to lift sanctions claiming violations
SANCTIONSThe Russian Railways have proceeded with an official request to the European Union to lift sanctions concerning the company. RZD was among the first legal entities to enter EU sanction lists just days after the...Read moreIt’s official: no sanctions apply to Kaliningrad’s rail transit
UPDATEThe European Commission realised the scenario of reversing the decision to impose restrictions on rail freight transit to Kaliningrad via Lithuania. Brussels published a guidance document clarifying that no sanction regime applies to rail transport...Read more
Lithuanian customs exempt fertilisers from Kaliningrad’s transit ban
Lithuanian customs intend to exempt certain types of fertilisers transiting from Russia to Kaliningrad. As a result, around 837,500 tons of potassium chloride and 1,58 million tons of mineral and chemical fertilisers could be transported...Read more
More than 800 Russian freight cars seized by Finland
SanctionsSince April 2022, 865 Russian freight cars have been seized by Finnish authorities. Over 82 million euro worth of assets were frozen to comply with EU sanctions on Russian coal after the start of the...Read moreLithuania imposes more traffic restrictions on Kaliningrad despite second thoughts
The Lithuanian customs have imposed a ban on the transit of Russian cement, alcohol and other products on their way to Kaliningrad by rail. The restrictions came into force on Sunday, 10 July, after a...Read more
EU could reverse Kaliningrad rail cut-off, fearing escalation with Russia
The European Union could reconsider the implementation of sanctions on cargo transit to Kaliningrad. After the initial decision to ban the transit of some products through Lithuanian territory, followed by Moscow’s threat to retaliate, the...Read more