Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the country has built a shadow fleet of over 1,240 tankers—many of which are aging and unsafe.
According to Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation on December 5, this fleet allows Russia to circumvent sanctions and continue exporting oil, with a significant portion of these vessels operating under the flags of other countries or without any flags at all.
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The fleet’s operations pose substantial risks, as these tankers often lack insurance and proper technical oversight. This has already led to several ecological disasters, including oil spills, fires, and marine pollution.
As of September 2025, Russia’s daily revenue from oil exports was approximately $200 million, with 69% of this volume being transported by its shadow fleet.
According to the center, citing data from the War&Sanctions project, Russia has skirted embargoes by using this illicit maritime network, with many tankers operating under flags of convenience from countries such as Panama, Liberia, and others often evading international scrutiny.
The shadow fleet operates across several regions, including key routes through the Baltic, Caspian, and Black Seas. These routes are used not only to transport oil but also to mask the origins of the shipments. According to the data, there are also instances where vessels transit through the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean, heading toward China and other Asian markets.
Earlier, a tanker previously used to transport Russian crude oil sank off the coast of Senegal, raising further concerns about the safety of vessels in the shadow fleet.
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