In a significant shift on March 7, 2024, the Dörtyol oil terminal in Türkiye’s Hatay province announced its decision to stop accepting Russian crude oil imports. This move comes as a direct response to the tightening of U.S. sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. The Dörtyol terminal, previously known for its business with Iraqi crude, had seen an influx of Russian oil as Europe imposed restrictions and Russia sought alternative trade routes. In 2023, the terminal reported record levels of Russian crude passing through Türkiye to Europe, in direct contravention of EU sanctions. Global Terminal Services (GTS), which operates Dörtyol, stated that this cessation is an added precaution to ensure compliance with international sanctions, despite all previous operations fully adhering to them, including the G7’s price cap on transporting Russian oil. The terminal had risen to become Türkiye’s seventh-largest by import volumes in 2023, with Russian imports significantly surpassing the total volume received from all countries in 2021.