A new set of restrictions is on the horizon for a fleet of Russian oil tankers, long used as a means to circumvent existing sanctions on oil and gas exports. Downing Street has unveiled plans to take action against approximately 100 vessels that have transported over £18 billion worth of cargo since the beginning of 2024. The announcement is scheduled to be made by Sir Keir Starmer at a gathering of north European leaders known as the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) in Oslo, Norway. The Prime Minister has made a commitment to utilize all available resources to dismantle Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “shadow fleet operation,” cut off oil revenues to his war efforts, and safeguard the subsea infrastructure.
In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, numerous western nations imposed sanctions on Russian energy, implementing restrictions on imports and imposing price caps on oil. To circumvent these sanctions, Moscow established a so-called “shadow fleet” of tankers designed to obfuscate their ownership and operations. The UK government has accused this operation of financially supporting the Kremlin’s unlawful activities in Ukraine. In addition, the government has labeled these vessels as “dilapidated and hazardous,” attributing to them instances of “reckless seafaring,” such as the reported damage to a major undersea cable in the Baltic Sea.
As part of the new measures, the sanctioned tankers will be prohibited from docking at British ports and may face detainment in UK waters. Starmer emphasized that each action taken to increase pressure on Moscow and contribute to peace in Ukraine is a step forward in ensuring security and prosperity for the UK. Comprised of ten nations, including Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands, the JEF is anticipated to announce further support for Ukraine’s defense efforts. Notably, the UK had previously imposed sanctions on 133 “shadow” vessels during a prior JEF meeting held in December 2024
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