The sanctions imposed by the United States on the Russian oil company NIS have led to the blocking of oil deliveries to Serbia, threatening the operation of the refinery in Pancevo, which produces the majority of fuels in the country.

Anonymous sources have stated that the refinery could suspend operations in a few days due to a lack of supplies, and President Aleksandar Vučić warned that without new deliveries, it will not be able to operate after November 1. Although Vučić assured that fuel depots are full, the company NIS, controlled by Gazprom Neft, has been subject to American sanctions since January, and deliveries have been recently disrupted. A shipment of Kazakh supplies destined for the refinery was blocked in Croatia, and the amount would have been enough to keep the refinery operational for 10 days. Although Serbia has reserves, dependence on imports will increase as they are depleted.