Although gas no longer flows through Nord Stream pipelines, there is a floating backdoor: despite sanctions, imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) into the EU increased in 2024 to a record level – by 19.3%. According to the German organization Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH), the German state-owned enterprise SEFE was the buyer of 58 deliveries with a total volume of 4.1 million tons. In 2023, there were only 12 deliveries with a total volume of 880,000. tone.
Energy imports are not limited to LNG. At the fuel element production plant in Lingen in Lower Saxony last year alone. 68.6 tons of Russian uranium were purchased. According to the Ministry of the Environment in Hannover this constitutes increase by 66 percent compared to the previous year.
However, this is not the end of the bad news. Oil and natural gas are just the tip of the iceberg.
India has long served as a “laundromat” for Russian oil — no other country has purchased such a large amount of raw material since the beginning of the war. Companies from this country earned well resale of diesel and gasoline to Europe. Only on January 21 this year. The EU put an end to this by banning the import of refined petroleum products that were produced elsewhere from Russian crude oil.
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To run a business, German companies are getting resourceful. Exports of e.g. machines, pumps and cars to the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan increased to EUR 700 million in 2024 [niecałe 3 mln euro, po obecnym kursie]which is 17 times more than in 2020. At the same time, economic experts emphasize that microchips and other technologies go directly to Russia.
EU farmers import more and more Russian fertilizers
It turns out that German and European farmers apparently cannot do without imports from Russia. In 2024 alone, fertilizer imports increased by over 33%. up to approximately EUR 1.75 billion [ponad 7,3 mld zł]. According to trade experts Russia is the largest exporter of fertilizers in the world. In 2023, the country sold approximately 13 percent to the EU. their exports.
Well-known German brands also sell their products in Putin's country and have branches there – in Russia, there are 1,400 companies with a total turnover of EUR 20 billion [84 mld zł]. These include, for example, Nivea by Beiersdorf. In 2024, the company achieved 1.5 percent. its global turnover in Russia. Also the Metro wholesale concern [91 sklepów i ok. 8000 pracowników w Rosji]Hochland cheese producer [1800 miejsc pracy] and technology and health giant Merck operate in Putin's empire.
The colossus is swaying
Vladimir Putin remains adamant in his demands for an end to the war in Ukraine and is increasingly intensifying his attacks in an attempt to force concessions from Ukraine. However, Russia may soon face such a necessity. Despite the Kremlin's propaganda of success, the condition of the Russian economy is much worse than it appears.
Russian soldiers are also coping much worse than before on the front in Ukraine. And Russians are starting to notice – more people now admit that their situation has worsened and that the authorities should end the war and take care of the economy. Because this year is facing the most difficult year since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
