UK targets Russian 'shadow fleet' with sweeping sanctions
On Thursday, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on 18 tankers transporting Russian crude oil and four vessels carrying Russian liquefied natural gas. This marks the most extensive package of sanctions targeting the so-called "shadow fleet," which consists of ships used by Russia to circumvent the embargo.
Ships included in the sanctions list will be prohibited from entering British ports, and they will not be permitted to register on the UK Ship Register. If they are already listed, they will be removed and may be directed to British ports for detention.
The British Foreign Office stated in a communiqué that it is estimated that last year alone, the 18 tankers now under sanctions transported crude oil worth approximately 4.9 billion dollars (3.8 billion pounds and 4.5 billion euro).
During the same period, the number of sanctioned tankers from the "shadow fleet" increased to 43. A significant number of these previously restricted vessels have been forced to idle outside ports worldwide and are unable to continue providing funds for Russia's war against Ukraine.
The British Foreign Office further explains that the operation of the "shadow fleet" not only undermines the effectiveness of the sanctions imposed on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, but also poses a threat to the natural environment. The Kremlin's disregard for safety standards heightens the risk of leaks and poses a threat to maritime safety and global trade security.
"We must combat malign Russian activity"
"We must combat malign Russian activity at every turn, whether illicit tactics to bolster Putin’s war chest, their use of cyber-attacks or barbarism on the front line in Ukraine," declared Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
"The UK is leading the charge against Putin’s desperate and dangerous attempts to cling on to his energy revenues, with his shadow fleet placing coastlines across Europe and the world in jeopardy," he added.
