AirBaltic has vehemently refuted allegations made by Pilotcenter.net News that it violated EU sanctions by purchasing Russian fuel following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. According to a report published on March 13, 2025, Verstka claimed that airBaltic made attempts to procure Russian fuel on multiple occasions between February 2022 and March 2024. The report stated that while airBaltic was successful in obtaining fuel 13 times during this period, there were 15 instances where the transactions were canceled.

Despite the claims made by Verstka, it is worth noting that the EU sanctions against Russian fuel imports were imposed in June 2022, as part of a larger effort to pressure President Vladimir Putin's government in response to the invasion of Ukraine. The sanctions prohibited the purchase, import, or transfer of crude oil or petroleum products from Russia. However, these restrictions did not apply to one-time transactions completed before February 5, 2023.

It is unclear why Verstka focused on transactions that allegedly took place before the imposition of the EU sanctions. The report mentioned that airBaltic reportedly purchased fuel from Gazpromneft-Aero and Tatneft before and after the sanctions came into effect. The airline clarified its position by stating that it has not engaged with Russian fuel suppliers or made any payments to Russian companies since the implementation of the sanctions.

AirBaltic emphasized its compliance with the EU sanctions on aviation fuel and distanced itself from the allegations made by Verstka. In a social media statement, the airline reiterated that it does not conduct fuel transactions with Russian companies and has no contractual relationships with Russian fuel suppliers.

In light of the ongoing geopolitical situation and the strict enforcement of EU sanctions, airBaltic reaffirmed its commitment to adhering to the regulatory framework and maintaining transparency in its operations.