The geography of the "oil pipeline wars" in the context of Russia’s interaction with the countries of the Baltic region
The article analyses oil pipelines, the operation of which intersects the interests of Russia and the Baltic countries (Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, and Poland). By oil pipeline wars we understand the confrontation between the policy of distancing from Russia in oil transportation to Europe and Russia’s policy of creating alternative, more economically effective and safe ways of oil transportation to Europe. Reflecting relations between countries, several groups of oil pipelines have been identified: the main pipelines, alternative ones, and indirectly related to the interests of the Baltic countries. The article describes geographical factors affecting the position of countries in the region analysed: the level of oil supply (Russia), the level of the development of oil refining (Lithuania, Belarus, Poland) and transport and geographical location of the territory. Special attention has been paid to the main instruments used by the countries in this confrontation. The Baltic and the Black Sea strategies of oil export have been analysed from the comparative and geographical points of view. Several important conclusions have been made: there was a redistribution of routes of Russia’s crude oil export to Europe during the post-Soviet period accompanied by an increase in the importance of the marine component (due to the Baltic and the Black Sea ports); there was a weakening of the importance of the Baltic region for Russia’s oil export; and the strengthening of interconnections between Russia’s export oil pipelines. The article stresses the importance of oil pipeline transport for the formation of the barrier function of the state borders of the post-Soviet countries.