EditBulgaria’s Lukoil refinery braces for U.S. sanctions amid regional fire mystery
The Prime Minister announced heightened security at Neftohim Burgas following “intentional” attacks on three European refineries
At the European Council in Brussels today (23 October) Bulgarian Prime Minister Rossen Zhelyazkov answered journalistic questions about the consequences of the U.S. sanctions against Lukoil for the only refinery in the country, Lukoil Neftohim Burgas, which is majority-owned by the Russian oil major.
The United States hit Russia’s major oil companies with sanctions on Wednesday (22 October) and accused the Russians of a lack of commitment toward ending the war in Ukraine.
US sanctions Lukoil and Rosneft as Moscow holds nuclear drills
Zhelyazkov spoke to the press ahead of a EU summit attended by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where leaders are discussing enhanced financial and military support for the country amid Russia’s ongoing aggression.
Asked to comment the news from Washington and the consequences for the only refinery in Bulgaria, Zhelyazkov said these were the first such sanctions adopted by the Trump administration.
Indeed, the sanctions recently imposed on Serbia’s Russian-owned NIS refinery, which operates the country’s sole oil processing facility in Pancevo, on 9 October, were decided by the previous administration, followed by multiple delays from an initial January announcement targeting Gazprom Neft’s stake.
Zhelyazkov said that Lukoil Bulgaria is part of the system of Lukoil Russia, because in his words it is indirectly owned at more than 50% by Russia’s Lukoil, and the refinery (Neftohim Burgas) is part of this regime.
He said that under the terms of the OFAC designation, there was time until 21 November to continue all necessary transactions and transfers.
Thus Bulgaria has one month to take a national decision regarding the future of the refinery, together with the refinery’s management. This, he said, doesn’t interfere with the production and the supply of petroleum products, because, as he said, from a long time the refinery doesn’t use Russian crude. But as the OFAC designation concern financial transactions and the use of the SWIFT system, there will be difficulties with the refinery linked to its Russian ownership, the prime minister acknowledged.
The options are linked to the screening of the refinery that must be made, the eventual appointment of an interim management and of all possibilities the Bulgarian legislation allows.
“The state should not fall in the sanction regime and the refinery needs to continue to function”, he said.
Asked by EUalive what decisions had been made following the news that three refineries in European countries went mysteriously on fire. In the past few days, mysterious explosions and fires have struck three key European oil refineries processing Russian crude – Lukoil’s Petrotel facility in Ploiești, Romania on 20 October; MOL’s Danube Refinery in Százhalombatta, Hungary later that evening; and MOL’s plant in Bratislava, Slovakia on 22 October —prompting investigations into potential sabotage amid escalating geopolitical tensions over Moscow’s energy exports.
Zhelyazkov said that all necessary measures have been taken, by the Ministry of Interior and the State Agency for National Security, for the safety and the prevention of sabotages against the Lukoil Neftohim Burgas refinery, as well as the Rossenets harbour, which the refinery exclusively uses.
Asked what information he had about the reasons why the tree refineries went on fire, he said:
“All options are explored, but obviously, these are intentional actions.”
Caption: Rossen Zhelyazkov speaks to journalists ahead of the 23 October European Council [Georgi Gotev]
Updated: October 23, 2025 - 15:35
