Information on current losses of the Russian Federation due to sanctions as of 16.02.2026.
1. The reduction in purchases of Russian oil triggers a negative chain reaction throughout the logistics chain.
– Longer routes of the “shadow fleet” effectively tie up tankers, reducing the number of ships available for storing additional volumes of oil at sea.
– As a result, producers are forced to direct more and more raw materials into domestic storage facilities.
– The volume of land capacities in Russia is not officially disclosed, but their resource seems limited.
– According to Kpler’s senior analyst Navin Das, onshore stocks are about 16 million barrels—approximately 51% of available capacity, judging by satellite monitoring of tanks. Theoretically, Russia can use part of its extensive pipeline system for storage.
– According to Kpler’s estimates, including pipelines and stationary tanks, whose fill levels cannot be accurately tracked by satellite, the total capacity might reach about 100 million barrels.
– However, even this may not be enough.
– Russia produces approximately 9.3 million barrels of oil per day, and about half of this volume is exported. If restrictions remain, land storages may quickly fill up, leaving producers with few options other than forced production cuts.
2. Increased Western pressure might eventually force Russia to cut oil production.
– Russian oil companies may soon face the necessity of sharply reducing production volumes due to export restrictions and storage overflows.
– Despite the fact that after the imposition of sanctions, Russian oil exports remained relatively stable for some time, the situation has begun to change.
– According to Kpler, sea exports decreased from 3.8 million barrels per day in December to 3.4 million in January, and in February fell to about 2.8 million barrels per day. This indicates a noticeable decline in external demand.
– At the same time, the volumes of oil stored on tankers have sharply increased. In recent months, they have exceeded 150 million barrels—a record level. Many ships have also reduced speed, indicating difficulties in selling cargo and delays in finding buyers. An additional blow might come from the European Commission’s initiative for a complete ban on any activities supporting the maritime export of Russian crude oil.
– If such restrictions take effect, pressure on the Russian oil sector will increase, and the ability to maintain the current level of production will significantly narrow.
3. Russian companies have sharply reduced the number of job vacancies.
– Against the backdrop of the worsening economic situation in Russia, businesses are reducing their demand for labor. In December 2025, employers reported 1.469 million open vacancies to state employment services — 13% less than a year ago and 9% less than in November.
– The peak demand for workers occurred in mid-2024, with 2.124 million vacancies in June. Since then, the figure has been steadily declining with minor seasonal fluctuations.
– The trend indicates a cooling of economic activity and business caution amid rising costs and sanctions pressure.
– The reduction in hiring undermines consumer demand and increases the risks of further slowing of the Russian economy.
4. The Russian road construction equipment market plummeted in 2025.
– Sales of new equipment in the domestic market decreased by 27.5%. This represents a significant contraction in the industry, which directly depends on the state of construction and government orders.
– The main reason for the collapse was the stagnation of residential and infrastructure construction. Construction growth slowed to 2.5% (18.8 trillion rubles) in 2025 — the worst result in the past five years, except for the first pandemic year.
– The decline affected almost all segments. Roller shipments plummeted by 47.9% to 136 units. Sales of mini-loaders decreased by 28.8%, pipelayer cranes and crawler bulldozers by 26.8%, motor graders by 25.5%.
– Overall dynamics indicate a cooling of investment activity and a reduction in the scale of large projects.
– Against the backdrop of budgetary problems and spending cuts, this places additional pressure on the industry, which is already operating under sanctions and limited access to technology.
5. Russians set a record for cash accumulation.
– The volume of ruble cash held by the population in 2025 reached 17.1 trillion rubles — a historic high, according to data from the Central Bank of Russia. The figure grew by 4.6% over the year, while in 2024, the growth was virtually zero at just 0.1%.
– The increase in cash reserves indicates a rise in cautious behavior by households and a decline in trust in the financial system amid economic uncertainty.
– For banks, this means a reduction in the resource base, and for the economy, additional pressure on lending and investment activity.
6. Russia increasingly relies on foreign mercenaries in the war against Ukraine.
– Due to significant losses on the front that exceed the number of new recruits, the Kremlin is forced to compensate for the lack of personnel by involving thousands of foreigners — notably from North Korea, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Cuba, Nigeria, and Senegal. This was stated by UK Defense Secretary John Healey.
– According to him, many of these people are recruited deceitfully or under pressure, unaware that they will end up directly on the front line in Ukraine.
– Healey estimated the number of North Korean soldiers fighting on the side of Russia at about 17,000.
– Such a reliance on foreign fighters indicates serious staffing problems in the Russian army and the growing difficulty for Moscow to sustain the intensity of combat operations with its own resources.
7. The US detained another “shadow fleet” tanker in the Indian Ocean.
– The tanker was used to transport oil under sanctions. This was reported by the Pentagon. The military tracked the movement of the vessel Veronica III from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, after which it was stopped.
– The Pentagon emphasized that international waters are not a “safe haven” for those attempting to bypass sanctions and warned other vessels about the consequences of violating restrictions.
– According to the resource War & Sanctions, associated with Ukrainian intelligence, Veronica III might have been used for the illegal transportation of hundreds of thousands of tons of Iranian and Venezuelan oil.
