The EU’s sanctions against Russia have quietly extended to Azerbaijani state-owned STAR Refinery in Turkey, with Brussels saying that the refinery was subject to a ban for processing Russian crude oil, OC Media reports.

Imports from the refinery are subject to a ban under the EU’s 18th sanctions package, adopted in July 2025. The package bans the import of refined products made from Russian crude if processed in third countries as an anti-circumvention measure.

When contacted by OC Media, EU foreign affairs spokesperson Anitta Hipper confirmed that STAR, jointly owned by the Azerbaijani government and its state oil company SOCAR, was covered by the package.

Hipper stressed that the goal is to cut off Russian oil revenues.

"This is intended to prevent Russian crude oil from reaching the EU market in any form," the EU official added.

The clarification may spell the end of STAR’s role in handling Russian oil for European buyers.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Azerbaijan has often been accused of “rebranding” Russian fossil fuels through its infrastructure.