The United Kingdom unveiled its largest sanctions package, aimed at Russia’s shadow fleet of oil tankers. The new measures will block 18 additional vessels, bringing the total number of blocked ships to 43, reported UK government on October 17.
According to a statement from the UK government, the sanctions will prohibit the tankers from accessing British ports and utilizing key maritime services.
New sanctions aimed to curb attempts by Russia’s shadow fleet to bypass sanctions and address the security threats and environmental risks posed by non-compliant shipping practices.
The UK’s measures are part of a broader global initiative to combat the risks associated with the shadow fleet. The country is closely coordinating with the US, Canada, the EU, and 44 other European nations in this effort.
UK’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that these sanctions deal a significant blow to Russia’s financial inflows.
Over the past year, sanctioned oil tankers have transported approximately $4.9 billion worth of crude oil, directly fueling Russia’s war machine.
Lammy added that Russia’s largest shipping company, Sovcomflot, resorted to changing the names and cargoes of its vessels in an attempt to evade sanctions.
In addition to targeting oil tankers, the UK has imposed sanctions on four liquefied natural gas tankers and Russia’s gas company JSC RusGazDobycha. These actions are designed to further weaken Russia’s gas sector, which has already suffered significant losses in 2023.
Earlier, investigation uncovered at least 9 instances of oil spills from vessels belonging to Russia’s “shadow fleet” since 2021, posing serious environmental risks around the globe.
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