Ukrainian foreign minister says 70% of Russia’s shadow oil fleet passes under NATO’s nose
As Warsaw assumes regional leadership, Ukraine calls for bold action on Kremlin oil tankers.
Browsing Tag
shadow fleet
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Russian prestigious School of Economics opens first master’s programme on circumventing Western sanctions
A Moscow educational institution has launched a two-year program, costing $6,000 per year, designed to prepare students for work in state corporations navigating international restrictions.
Frontline report: Russia’s oil smugglers are running out of ocean as UK freezes 100+ shadow fleet tankers
Insurance firms, legal services, and port facilities across Europe are now off-limits to any vessel connected to Russia's price cap violations, forcing tankers into increasingly circuitous routes to avoid detection.
EU agrees on new Russia sanctions package targeting energy and finance
Ambassadors greenlight the 18th sanctions round ahead of formal Council approval: Malta and Slovakia dropped their vetoes after receiving key guarantees.
Ukraine’s Intelligence: Explosion disables Russian shadow fleet tanker, carrying 1 million barrels of sanctioned oil
The Vilamoura, carrying crude oil, was previously spotted at Russian ports and is now under tow.
New Zealand pledges $9.5 million in Ukraine aid ahead of NATO Summit
Wellington announces a fresh support package just as PM Luxon prepares to meet global leaders in The Hague.
Russia kills Ukrainian civilians on unprecedented scale since Trump’s peace efforts, while West debates sanctions in slow motion
With no pressure, Russia turns every negotiation into a smokescreen.
Media: Leaked memo shows Trump-era US pulled out of EU sanctions plan
Top European envoys warn of major risks if unity continues to collapse.
Russian navy now guards shadow fleet oil tankers in Gulf of Finland, minister says
The presence of military escorts to tankers is something Finnish officials haven’t seen before.
Putin’s war plan unchanged, Estonia’s defense chief says ahead of Brussels meeting which aims to bring more aid to Kyiv
Moscow’s drone swarm signals peace talk doublespeak.
EU approves 17th package of sanctions, adds nearly 200 Russian ships to the list
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced on 20 May that the bloc has approved new sanctions against Russia that focus on maritime assets used to circumvent previous restrictions.
FP: Kremlin is cracking, but the US hesitates to strike
Foreign Policy says now is the perfect moment to pressure Russia with sanctions, but the lack of US resolve threatens to let the opportunity slip away.
UK to sanction 100 Russian oil tankers in biggest ever shadow fleet crackdown
Amid the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war, Britain targets Moscow's shadow fleet, linked to $24 billion in smuggled oil, citing risks to undersea cables, environment, and Europe's infrastructure security.
Trump prolongs ban on Russian vessels in American ports for another year
Citing continued threats to national security, President Trump has renewed the ban preventing Russian-affiliated vessels from accessing American ports through 2026.
Estonian navy detains Russian shadow fleet’s oil tanker near Tallinn
Authorities now check the flagless vessel Kiwala's technical condition and crew documentation.
Russia’s € 80 billion shadow oil trade operates through 387 tankers, intelligence says
Ukraine's intelligence reveals Russia's tanker operators frequently change ownership structures while expanding to 387 vessels that operate without proper maritime safeguards or accident compensation mechanisms
Politico: Europe moves to squeeze Russia’s shadow fleet as Finland shows how it’s done
The seizure of the Eagle S by Finnish authorities, a Russian oil tanker suspected of damaging vital subsea cables in the Baltic Sea, might trigger a shift in EU strategy.
Two more ships carrying Russian oil sinking in Pacific and Baltic
Maritime incidents saw a Chinese cargo ship grounding near Sakhalin while an Antigua-flagged tanker stalled at Ust-Luga.
iStories: New US sanctions affected vessels that transported a fifth of Russia’s oil exports in 2024
India has stated it will not reduce its purchases of Russian oil, while China has yet to comment on the new sanctions.
Barbados and Panama to remove flags from 114 Russian shadow fleet tankers
Following January 2025 sanctions, Russian vessels are seeking new registrations, with some moving from Barbados to flags like Tanzania and São Tomé.