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Over 15 Sanctioned Oil Tankers Rush to Reflag Under Russia in Just Two Weeks, Data Shows
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More than 15 tankers linked to the transport of sanctioned oil have changed their registration to the Russian flag over the past two weeks, The Wall Street Journal reported on January 11, citing data from Lloyd’s List Intelligence.
“Adopting the Russian flag is a way for the dark fleet to be supposedly protected from raids. It can certainly become a flashpoint between Washington and Moscow,” said Richard Meade, editor in chief of Lloyd’s List.
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According to the WSJ, a total of 25 tankers 25 tankers were switched to the Russian flag in the final quarter of 2025, citing data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. Of those, 18 were reflagged in December, and 16 were already under UK or US sanctions. S&P said the legality of changing a vessel’s flag while at sea under international maritime law remains uncertain.
The change in vessel registrations points to the continued evolution of the tanker network used to transport oil from Venezuela, Iran, and Russia, the outlet reported. To obscure the origin of their cargo and evade oversight, operators employ a range of tactics, including changing ship names and manipulating location data.
Until recently, much of the shadow fleet sailed under less prominent registries such as Gabon or under commonly used flags of convenience like Liberia’s. Some vessels were also found to be carrying fake registrations from countries including East Timor and Malawi.
Shipping executives and maritime lawyers told the WSJ that those controlling the newly Russian-flagged tankers appeared to be wagering that the United States would hesitate to act against vessels officially registered as Russian.
Earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported that the US Coast Guard halted an operation aimed at seizing the sanctioned oil tanker Bella 1 after the vessel began displaying a Russian flag.
According to the WSJ, the effort to track down Bella 1—an aging tanker that had remained outside US Coast Guard control for nearly two weeks—grew more complex once a roughly painted Russian flag appeared on the ship’s hull. US officials believe the move was likely intended to signal Russian protection and deter further action.
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