Western Sanctions Increase the Isolation of Kaliningrad

After the introduction of sanctions in 2022, russia’s costs for the transit of goods increased, especially on routes to Kaliningrad region, which does not have a land connection with the rest of the territory of the rf. Previously, most deliveries were carried out through Lithuania, but due to quotas and restrictions, this route has significantly lost accessibility.

The load has shifted to sea routes: while in 2019 cabotage amounted to 0.4 million tons, in 2024 “Oboronlogistika” alone transported more than 2 million tons. However, the ferry infrastructure turned out to be overloaded – queues, shortages of cargo spaces and reductions of the fleet complicate supplies.

Small businesses are in the worst position: large operators reserve spaces in advance thanks to administrative resources, effectively displacing small carriers from the market. Sanctions not only destabilize logistics, but also deepen socio-economic imbalances in the region, demonstrating the vulnerability of the system.