As of 25 December 2013, the Russian state monopoly company JSC Russian Railways (JSC RZD) imposed a temporary ban on the loading of wagons whose owners reside in CIS and Baltic countries. In a telegram of 24 December 2013, JSC RZD informed its branches that wagons from the mentioned counties must only be unloaded and subsequently returned empty to their owners. 
 
The measure was justified citing operational savings. According to Mr. Savchuk from the Russia-based Institute of Natural Monopolies Research, JSC RZD will save up to RUB 3-4 billion per year from the implementation of this measure.