The oil terminal’s piers stretch just a few score yards into the Black Sea from the Bulgarian coast.
For 25 years, the Russian crude they received fed a sprawling network of economic and political influence that helped keep Bulgaria tethered tightly to the Kremlin.
In recent months, however, Russia has steadily lost its grip on the Rosenets Oil Terminal, near the Black Sea port city of Burgas.
Bulgaria has taken back control of the piers and has laid plans to take over management of the refinery from its Russian owner, Lukoil, if it balks at processing non-Russian oil.
In January, Bulgaria halted shipments of Russian crude.
Locations:
Bulgarian, Bulgaria, Russian, Russia, Burgas