Dubai — Despite stringent EU, UK, and US sanctions on Russian energy exports, a network of former senior traders from global commodity giants Trafigura and Vitol appears to be maintaining Russian oil and product trading through Dubai-based intermediaries, according to industry sources and corporate filings.
Two companies are at the center of these flows: Patera Middle East DMCC and Forteza Trading DMCC. Both firms employ former high-profile traders and executives from Trafigura, Vitol, and Lukoil’s now-liquidated trading arm, Litasco Middle East Trading.
Patera Middle East DMCC (aka Samaria / Lidoil)
Patera Middle East DMCC, also known as Samaria or Lidoil, reportedly trades Russian oil products and is believed to operate with indirect support from Trafigura, although no official ownership links have been publicly disclosed.
Company website: https://www.patera.ae
Trader connections
Links to Russian oil producers and terminals
Key individuals associated with Patera:
- Dmitry Golubev — former Trafigura trader and son of Vasily Golubev, Governor of Russia’s Rostov Oblast from 2010 to 2024, sanctioned by the UK government in 2022 over the Russo-Ukrainian War. (Source)
- Ravil Kudyakov — former TNK-BP executive.
Industry sources indicate that Patera has become a conduit for Russian-origin oil products following the tightening of Western sanctions, utilizing Dubai’s neutral trading hub to facilitate transactions.
Forteza Trading DMCC and Vitol Connections
Forteza Trading DMCC is widely reported to be supported by Vitol, the world’s largest independent oil trading company. While Vitol officially sources Russian oil products only from “clean” or non-sanctioned producers, Forteza is alleged to deal with companies that are under sanctions, creating a parallel high-risk trading channel.
Company website: https://forteza.ae
Key figures associated with Forteza:
- Dmitry Vinogradov — former Vitol trader, described as highly successful and maintaining close ties to Vitol post-departure.
- Evgeniy Lazarev — Russian trader involved in Forteza’s founding.
- Elena Vasilieva — co-owner and Chair of the Board of Directors of JSC Petersburg Oil Terminal, a strategic Russian oil export terminal. In 2025, a Russian court seized a majority stake in the terminal from the founding family, raising questions about political connections. (Meduza)
From Patera to Forteza: A Split in Leadership
Sources familiar with the matter say that Dmitry Vinogradov, Dmitry Golubev, and Evgeniy Lazarev initially co-founded Patera. Disagreements led to a split, after which Vinogradov established Forteza Trading DMCC in partnership with the controversial Elena Vasilieva.
Influx of Former Litasco Traders
Adding further complexity, a significant number of Russian traders from Litasco Middle East Trading, the Dubai-based arm of Lukoil that has since been liquidated, have reportedly joined either Patera or Forteza.
Notable traders cited by sources include:
- Konstantin Tochilin — fuel oil trader, close to Surgutneftegas
- Ilya Zaymentsev — diesel oil trader
- Vladislav Dolgov — diesel oil, son of Denis Dolgov, former VP of Lukoil
- Nikolay Ambrosov — shipping specialist, former Commercial Director of Litasco Middle East’s shipping arm, son of Evgeniy Ambrosov (Novatek / Sovcomflot)
Implications for Regulators and Markets
While there is no public evidence that these companies have violated sanctions, the concentration of former Western trading house personnel, politically connected individuals, and sanctioned-entity exposure underscores the challenges EU, UK, and US authorities face in enforcing energy sanctions.
Dubai’s role as a neutral trading hub has become increasingly important in rerouting Russian oil flows, relying on experienced traders, complex corporate structures, and longstanding industry relationships.
This report is based on publicly available sources, corporate records, and industry interviews.
EURO ASIA NEWS INTERNET NEWSPAPER 
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