U.K. Launches Unprecedented Sanctions Against Russian Oil Tanker Shadow Fleet

On Friday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the UK’s most extensive sanctions package to date, aimed at Russia’s so-called shadow fleet of oil tankers that are believed to be evading Western restrictions imposed following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The UK government revealed that it would sanction up to 100 vessels that have transported over $24 billion worth of oil since the beginning of 2023. Additionally, it introduced measures targeting individuals and organizations involved with the fleet.

Britain has already placed more Russian shadow fleet vessels on its blacklist than any other nation, in an effort to make them financially burdensome for the Kremlin’s wartime economy.

Experts indicate that the shadow fleet, consisting of tankers with dubious ownership and lacking proper insurance, has enabled Russia to continue its oil sales despite export bans and price caps.

London asserts that Western sanctions have already cut more than a third of Russia’s oil and gas revenues since 2022. The government also accused the aging tankers of causing damage to vital subsea cables across Europe.

«The threat from Russia to our national security must not be underestimated,» Starmer stated in a communication.

«That is why we are committed to doing everything possible to dismantle his shadow fleet operations, deprive his war machine of oil income, and safeguard the subsea infrastructure that is essential for our daily lives,» he added.

In a post on X, Starmer mentioned that the sanctions are intended to “protect working individuals” in the UK.

On the same day, the Prime Minister was present in Oslo for a meeting of the British-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), where the focus was on Ukraine and Arctic security.

The alliance was expected to announce increased support for Ukraine, which would include enhanced military training and efforts to combat misinformation.

Britain and Norway are also set to formalize a new memorandum on «space domain awareness,» aimed at monitoring satellites, debris, and other objects in orbit.

The JEF includes Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Reporting contributed by AFP.