EU Cracks Down on Russia’s Shadow Fleet, Imposes Sanctions on 43 Vessels and Key Individuals

The European Union has imposed additional sanctions on Russia, particularly on its so-called shadow fleet, following the approval of the bloc’s ambassadors, Rikard Jozwiak, Editor of Radio Free Europe reported on December 10.

The new measures include anctions against nine individuals and entities involved in facilitating Russia’s shadow fleet.A blacklist of 43 vessels linked to the shadow fleet, set to be formally approved on Friday.

They also target 12 individuals and two entities identified as destabilizing the EU. This includes GRU officers, members of the Valdai Club, and citizens from the US, France, and Switzerland working on behalf of Russia.

Previously, the Group of Seven (G7) nations and the European Union (EU) are in discussions to replace the existing price cap on Russian oil exports with a sweeping ban on maritime services, six sources with direct knowledge of the talks told Reuters.

The move aims to significantly reduce the oil revenue that continues to fuel Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.

Russia currently relies on Western-owned tankers and services—largely from EU countries such as Greece, Cyprus, and Malta—to export a significant portion of its oil to markets like India and China. The proposed ban would aim to halt this trade by restricting access to those maritime services.

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