Angry dock workers in the UK are refusing to unload Russian oil due to Ukraine invasion

BIRKENHEAD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 26: Oil tankers unload at the Essar Oil Tranmere Terminal on the River Mersey.

Russian oil and gas is not being unloaded at British ports because of the invasion of Ukraine.

Russian ships are not allowed to dock at British ports because of sanctions from the U.K. There is a loophole that allows Russian goods and energy to be transported into the country using foreign ships.

Workers at these ports are taking charge of their own affairs.

A German-flagged vessel has been given permission to dock at the nearby oil terminal on the River Mersey, according to the company that runs the Stanlow refinery in northwest England. Sharon Graham, the general secretary of U.K. union Unite, said that her members will not unload any Russian oil regardless of the nationality of the vessel which delivers it.

She said she was proud of the members of the union who were taking a principled stand against Russian oil.

It is appalling that they have been put in this position by the UK, which is dragging its feet on sanctions.

The two Russian ships that were due to dock in Kent were turned away this weekend due to the sanctions. Staff at the Grain LNG port were angry that they might be asked to unload the ships.

The workers at the National Grid terminal don't want to touch the cargo because of the situation in Ukraine, according to Matt Lay, head of energy for the Unison union.

The staff is determined to show their support for the Ukrainian people and uphold the sanctions imposed against Russia.

The Boris Vilkitsky with gas docked at the port of Montoir-de-Bretagne in France on Saturday after being refused entry into Britain.

In a statement, the group said that it had confronted the tanker in an inflatable at sea, with the activists displaying a banner reading "Fossil Fuels War" as it arrived in France.

In the Netherlands, where Russian ships are not currently banned, dock workers are taking a stand. The workers are preparing for legal action from oil companies.

There is blood on the oil, coal and gas, according to a Dutch union spokesman. We are trying to find a way to boycott it without being fined.

The British government told Sky News that it was mandatory for all ports and harbors to follow legislation banning all Russian ships.

They said that the U.K. ministers were looking at ways to reduce the amount of imports from Russia.

They urged Europe to put in place plans to end their dependence on Russian gas.