Lithuania has become the first country to abandon the use of Russian gas in a landmark decision against Moscow's energy blackmail in Europe and the war in Ukraine.
The country's Ministry of Energy revealed that from the start of April Lithuania's gas system will operate without importing Russian crude oil.
The country's gas distributor Amber Grid later verified the claims, showing today the Kremlin's gas accounts for 0MWh in Lithuania, local outlet lrt.lt reports.
Minister of Energy Dainius Kreivys said the move is a turning point in Lithuania's mission for energy independence.
He said: "We are the first EU country among Gazprom's supply countries to secure independence from Russian gas supplies, and it is the result of a long-term consistent energy policy and timely infrastructure decisions."
President Gitanas Nausėda wrote on Twitter the decision to cut off reliance on Russian energy was made many years ago.
He added it "allows us to sever energy ties with the aggressor without pain".
The president went on to slam Europe for failing to cut ties with the Kremlin's supply, saying: "If we can, so can the rest of Europe".
During a joint news conference with the Danish prime minister, Mr Nauseda added: "[The] Kremlin regime uses this money to finance destruction of Ukrainian cities and attacks on peaceful civillians".
"The fifth sanction package must deliver a maximum blow to the Kremlin regime," he said.
Responding to the news, Russian gas supplier Gazprom told Amber Grid it no longer plans to import gas through Belarus and into Lithuania.
Despite several countries imposing outright bans on Russian crude in the wake of Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine, the European Union - which gets 40% of its gas from Russia - remains divided.
Australia, Britain, Canada and the United States have implemented total prohibitions on purchases of Russian oil in the time since Putin ordered the invasion on February 24.
The bloc's 27 members have been unable to agree on an embargo, with Germany warning against hasty steps that could push the economy into recession, and, some countries, such as Hungary, opposing any bans.
However, Germany aims to phase out Russian oil imports by the end of this year, officials said, as does Poland.
Many buyers in Europe are shunning Russian crude voluntarily to avoid reputational damage or possible legal difficulties.
Russian oil product exports from the Black Sea port of Tuapse in March were just half of those planned, falling to 738,000 tonnes as European buyers stayed away.
Meanwhile, India and China, which have refused to condemn the Kremlin's actions, continue to buy crude from Russian suppliers.
Lured by steep discounts following Western sanctions on Russian entities, India has bought at least 13million barrels of Russian crude oil since late February.
That compared with some 16million barrels for the whole of 2021, data compiled by Reuters shows.
British oil major BP is abandoning its stake in Rosneft and will not enter new deals with Russian entities for loading at Russian ports, unless "essential for ensuring security of supplies", Reuters reports.
How far must the UK go before it can reach Lithuania's status?
At the start of March, UK Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng announced the UK will begin phasing out Russian oil imports as a direct response to the invasion.
Unlike Lithuania, the UK's "phasing out will not be immediate" to allow "time to adjust" for businesses and consumers, a Gov.uk report said.
But Britain, unlike the EU and other global powers, are not reliant on Russian oil - with it making up just 8% of total demand.
Russian natural gases account for four per cent of British supply.
Mr Kwarteng said the UK will be working with alternative suppliers "beyond Russia" - including the Netherlands and the USA. He also mentioned Saudi Arabia which still continues to account for a slice of UK oil demand despite its appalling human rights record.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it will take a year for the UK to abandon its Russian oil needs.
The announcement came just days after another ban was announced.
On March 1, the Government barred all Russian ships from entering UK ports - giving authorities new powers to detain vessels.
According to the Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES) for 2020 - the most recent data available - Britain doesn't use any Russian oil for petrol, heating oil, or fuel oil.
But to get rid of Russian crude from the UK supply, Brits will need to significantly reduce reliance on diesel.
At present, Russian diesel makes up a huge chunk of supply at 18%.
Jet fuel, also known as aviation turbine fuel, is used in gas-turbine engine aircraft - and Russian supply accounts for around five per cent of all fuel used in the UK.
Russian imports of red diesel - used in tractors, other agricultural machinery, and off-road vehicles - account for 1% of British supply.
EU energy firms still buying Russian crude
NEFTOCHIM BURGAS
A Bulgarian refinery, owned by Russia's Lukoil, and with Russian crude accounting for about 60% of its intake, continues to refine Russian crude.
MIRO
Russian crude continues to account for about 14% of the intake at Germany's largest refinery, Miro, which is 24% owned
by Rosneft..
PCK SCHWEDT
Germany's PCK Schwedt refinery, 54% owned by Rosneft, receives crude oil via the Druzhba pipeline.
LEUNA
The land-locked Leuna refinery in eastern Germany, majority-owned by TotalEnergies, is also fed Russian crude by the Druzhba pipeline.
HELLENIC PETROLEUM
Greece's biggest oil refiner relies on Russian crude for about 15% of its intake. The company earlier this month secured
additional supplies from Saudi Arabia.
ISAB
Italy's largest refinery, owned by Lukoil-controlled Swiss-based Litasco SA, processes Russian and non-Russian crudes.
MOL
The Hungarian oil group, which operates three refineries in Croatia, Hungary and Slovakia, continues to buy Russian crude via Druzhba pipeline, as well as refined products, a company source told Reuters.
Hungary is opposed to sanctions on Russian oil and gas.
ZEELAND REFINERY
The Dutch refinery, 45% owned by Lukoil, declined to comment on whether it was using Russian crude oil.
ROTTERDAM REFINERY
Exxon Mobil declined to comment on whether its Dutch refinery in Rotterdam was using Russian crude oil.
