Rosneft faces export deadlock as YUKOS attacks

MOSCOW, March 17 (Reuters) - Russian state oil major Rosneft (ROSN.MM) faces an export deadlock after bankrupt rival YUKOS won U.S. and British court injunctions making cash payments to Rosneft in the West very complicated, sources told Reuters.

Rosneft declined to comment on the injunctions, which trade and industry sources said were part of a legal battle between YUKOS and the Russian government, which dissolved YUKOS several years ago and sold most of its assets to Rosneft.

"It seems this (the injunctions) affects any payment to Rosneft in U.S. dollars. Under a worst case scenario, there could be chaos with payments and a complete deadlock of Rosneft's exports," said a trader with a global major.

YUKOS spokeswoman Claire Davidson also declined comment.

Industry and trading sources said the injunctions related to a Dutch court decision last year which ordered Rosneft to pay $389 million to a YUKOS unit, YUKOS Capital. [ID:nLT733686] (Reporting by Dmitry Zhdannikov, editing by Robin Paxton)