The UK government and Russia's 'shadow fleet'
The UK government is considering the use of oil from ships of Russia's 'shadow fleet' to fund military support for Ukraine. British special forces are preparing for raids on ships violating sanctions, which, the government hopes, will have a dual impact on the Russian military machine.
Legal basis for the raids
Specifically, the UK government has identified the legal basis for conducting raids that may involve hundreds of oil tankers belonging to Russia's 'shadow fleet'. Among the vessels already sanctioned are:
- tanker Spring Fortune - sanctioned in May 2022;
- tanker Range Vale - sanctioned in 2024.
It is noteworthy that in January, British forces supported the US in detaining the Bella 1 (Marinera) tanker, which was an important step in combating violations of international sanctions. UK authorities hope that new raids on Russian ships will not only reduce financial support for the Russian military machine but also secure resources for supporting Ukraine.
These actions by Britain demonstrate the increasing resolve of the international community to combat sanctions evasion imposed on Russia. Given the active hostilities in Ukraine, the UK government is seeking new ways to support Ukrainian forces while simultaneously striking at the financial foundation of the Russian army. An important part of this process is cooperation with other countries, such as the US, highlighting the global nature of modern security challenges.