The study shows how fossil fuels (oil, gas, coal) are transformed into plastic and plastic products, and how this chain is linked to the financing of Russia’s war against Ukraine and the climate crisis.
In this document, you will find the following explanations:
The study “How Russian Fuel Fuels the World of Plastic: An Investigation into the Correlation Between Fossil Fuels and Plastic” was prepared by the public association “Ukrainian Zero Waste Alliance” with the support of the European Union and the International Renaissance Foundation as part of the joint initiative “Joining the EU Together.”
Plastic = fossil fuels. 98% of plastic is produced from oil and gas.
Russian fuel → plastic → money for waging war.
In 2021, Russia derived 45% of its federal budget from oil and gas. In other words, nearly half of the aggressor state’s budget comes from fossil fuels. In the first 6 months of the full-scale war, Russia earned €43 billion from fossil fuel exports. Even during the active phase of the aggression, revenues from oil and gas did not decrease—they became the foundation for financing the war.
Since 2022, Russia has received over €883 billion from fossil fuel sales. Of that amount, €228 billion came from countries that have formally imposed sanctions.
China, India, and Turkey accounted for 74% of Russia’s fossil fuel revenues in 2025. Despite EU sanctions, Russian hydrocarbons continue to flow into global markets and are still used as raw materials for plastic production. Petroleum products from Russia may also reach EU markets even after an embargo—through refining in third countries.
Turkey and India resold refined Russian oil worth €6.1 billion.
The petrochemical industry is the largest driver of global oil demand growth. By 2050, the production of plastics and fertilizers alone will account for nearly half of global oil demand—more than aviation, shipping, or freight transport.
Microplastics have already been detected in human blood, lungs, and the placenta. This makes the problem not only an environmental one but also one that directly affects human health.
Refusing to import fossil fuels from Russia is not only a strategically important step in the context of energy security but also a powerful tool for achieving environmental goals. Russia is an aggressor state that launched a war against Ukraine in 2014, and revenues from oil and gas exports remain a key source of funding for its military aggression. Reducing dependence on Russian fossil fuels is not only a moral issue but also a means of curbing the financial flows that sustain the war.
To accompany the materials visually, we are sharing a folder of illustrations.
Source: Executive Committee of the Polonska City Council of the Territorial Community
