Washington has extended until September 19 the deadline for Russian oil giant Lukoil to complete the sale of its foreign assets, giving potential buyers additional time to finalize transactions. The extension was announced by the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
Under the new deadline, transactions involving Lukoil’s international assets can continue, but each individual deal remains subject to approval from OFAC. The extension does not provide blanket authorization for the sale of any particular asset.
The United States imposed sanctions on Lukoil in October 2025 as part of broader measures aimed at increasing economic pressure on Moscow over Russia’s war in Ukraine. Shortly after the sanctions were introduced, Lukoil announced plans to sell its assets outside Russia.
Since then, US authorities have repeatedly extended licenses governing the company’s international operations and potential asset sales. On July 24, the deadline had been set for August 22. The latest decision effectively adds almost another month for the transactions to be completed.
The development is particularly significant for Bulgaria, where Lukoil has a major presence in the energy sector. The Russian company owns the Lukoil Neftochim Burgas refinery and operates a network of about 500 gas stations across the country.
