These charts show how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has changed global oil flows

These charts show how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has changed global oil flows

European Union leaders reached an agreement to ban the majority of Russian crude oil and petroleum product imports, but nations were already shunning the country's oil, altering global flows for the commodity that powers the world. Russian oil exports had already been hurt by some EU members acting preemptively in anticipation of potential measures, in addition to bans from countries including the United States, according to commodity data firm Kpler. The amount of Russian crude oil that's "on the water" surged to nearly 80 million barrels this month, the firm noted, up from less than 30 million barrels prior to the Ukraine invasion. "The rise in the volume of crude on the water is because more barrels are heading further afield —specifically to India and China," said Matt Smith, lead oil analyst for the Americas at Kpler. "Prior to the invasion of Ukraine, a lot more Russian crude was moving to nearby destinations in Northwest Europe instead," he added. Russia's invasion of Ukraine at the end of February has sent energy markets reeling. Russia is the largest oil and products exporter in the world, and Europe is especially dependent on Russian fuel. EU leaders had been debating a sixth round