Ukraine Targets 91 Vessels in Russian 'Shadow Fleet' Used to Evade Oil Sanctions

Ukraine Imposes Sanctions on Russian Maritime Fleet

According to Главком: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has enacted a decree imposing sanctions on 91 maritime vessels. These ships are part of Russia's so-called 'shadow fleet,' utilized to transport oil while circumventing international restrictions. The decree implements a decision by Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, aiming to tighten control over Russian oil shipments. This move is part of broader international efforts to limit the revenue Russia uses to fund its war against Ukraine.

The sanctioned vessels have been moving oil and petroleum products from Russian ports, including Novorossiysk, Ust-Luga, and Primorsk. They transported these cargoes to third countries, bypassing sanctions imposed by the European Union, G7 nations, and others. Their activity was monitored in the Black, Red, and Baltic Seas. Notably, the ships sailed under the flags of approximately 20 different countries, with only one being Russian-flagged.

It is noted that 27 vessels on the list are already under sanctions from the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and the EU. Work on imposing sanctions against the remaining 64 vessels will continue. Previously, President Zelenskyy signed decrees sanctioning 66 individuals and 62 legal entities, including citizens and residents of Russia, Hong Kong, Kyrgyzstan, and the UAE.

Expert Commentary

Shadow fleet tankers are a key tool for evading oil sanctions, so their identification and the imposition of sanctions must occur swiftly and without exception. Each such vessel should be viewed as an element financing the Russian war machine.

Vladyslav Vlasiuk

Ukraine also plans to share information on the sanctioned vessels with the countries under whose flags they sail.

Sanctioning vessels belonging to Russia's shadow fleet represents a significant step for Ukraine in combating the circumvention of international sanctions. It underscores the Ukrainian government's efforts to increase oversight of oil shipments that finance Russia's military actions. A crucial component of this process is cooperation with international partners, who have already sanctioned a portion of these ships, which could substantially enhance the effectiveness of further measures against the Russian shadow fleet.