UK Imposes Sanctions on 11 Additional Tankers Linked to Russian Oil Exports

The UK has imposed sanctions on 11 additional oil tankers involved in aiding Russia's export of supplies to customers, including some linked to a shadow fleet.

Eight of these tankers are owned by Sovcomflot PJSC, Russia's state-run oil tanker company, while three others are identified as vessels associated with the shadow fleet, as per an updated sanctions list.

These designations bring the total number of sanctioned oil tankers to over 60, sanctioned either by US, UK, or European Union authorities. Among these 11 tankers, two had already been targeted by the EU.

These measures have reportedly significantly halted the operations of most of the affected tankers, which have ceased collecting cargoes.

Since late October, Western nations have been progressively sanctioning ships involved in exporting Russian oil, including the initial targeting of tankers from the shadow fleet announced last month.

The Group of Seven (G7) countries and its allies plan to restrict Russian oil exports by limiting Western services if the oil price exceeds $60 per barrel.

The UK intends to initiate a joint initiative this week with European nations to intensify pressure on shadow fleet ships. Alongside sanctions, several governments are expected to endorse a plan to share intelligence on these vessels.

The ships sanctioned on July 18 were:

• Zaliv Amurskiy (IMO 9354313)

• SCF Amur (IMO 9333436), already EU sanctioned

• SCF Pechora (IMO 9333424)

• Korolev Prospect (IMO 9826902)

• Primorsky Prospect (IMO 9511533)

• Rocky Runner (IMO 9288899)

• Dynamik Trader (IMO 9286657)

• Adygeya (IMO 9292204)

• Fighter Two (IMO 9296391)

• NS Lotus (IMO 9339337), already EU sanctioned

• NS Commander (IMO 9306794)

It was reported earlier that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to visit Downing Street on July 19 and is expected to meet and brief the new Cabinet about the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine. The meeting follows the agreement reached at the European Political Community (EPC) summit, where 44 European countries and the European Union pledged to collaborate in efforts to dismantle Russia's alleged "shadow fleet."