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Sanctioned Russian Shadow Fleet Conducts Illegal Oil Transfers Off Greek Coast

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Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko
Dariia Mykhailenko
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Sanctioned Russian Shadow Fleet Conducts Illegal Oil Transfers Off Greek Coast
The first voyage of the Aframax-type tanker named Shusha acquired by the joint venture “SA Maritime AFEZCO”. (Source: VesselFinder)

An Aframax-type tanker without Western insurance has been conducting illegal ship-to-ship oil transfers in open waters since July 2024. These operations are taking place near the coasts of Greece and Cyprus, according tog to Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) on June 16.

“Such operations pose an environmental threat, allow the aggressor to conceal the origin of the oil, evade international oversight, and facilitate its delivery to third countries in circumvention of sanctions,” HUR stated on Telegram.

The agency emphasizes that in the fourth year of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, oil and gas exports remain a primary source of revenue for the Kremlin. It is estimated that one-third of these revenues in 2025 will be directed toward financing the war.

HUR warns that Russia's so-called “shadow fleet” is actively employing high-risk maritime practices, including disabling automatic identification systems, spoofing navigation data, carrying out nighttime transfers without lighting, using flags of convenience, and registering front companies to mask ownership.

Beyond sanctions evasion, the shadow fleet is reportedly used as a tool of hybrid warfare. HUR has documented cases of these vessels engaging in intelligence-gathering and sabotage operations, particularly in the Baltic Sea—monitoring naval infrastructure, undersea cables, and other critical facilities.

Additionally, according to HUR, Main Intelligence Directorate has released data on 159 oil tankers, most of which are part of the shadow fleet, along with details on 55 captains commanding these ships.

Earlier, Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, called for the EU’s 18th sanctions package against Russia to include tougher measures targeting the Russian banking and energy sectors, its tanker fleet, and the introduction of secondary sanctions.

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