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Ukraine Uncovers Russian Oil Sanctions Evasion Scheme Involving India's Nayara Energy
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Ukraine's military intelligence has identified what it describes as a sanctions evasion scheme involving the processing of Russian oil through Indian refiner Nayara Energy, in which Russian state oil giant Rosneft holds a 49.13% stake.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Defense Ministry (HUR) announced the findings on July 14.
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HUR alleges that the refinery processes Russian crude oil before exporting refined petroleum products through Russia's so-called shadow fleet.
As part of the alleged operation, HUR said the tanker AGNI, which it identified as part of Russia's shadow fleet, departed Nayara Energy's oil terminal on June 20, 2026, carrying nearly 67,500 metric tons of petroleum products.
The vessel’s declared destination was an area west of the Suez Canal near the Egyptian port of Port Said. According to HUR, it was expected to conduct a ship-to-ship (STS) transfer there with another tanker from Russia's so-called shadow fleet, GARNET.
HUR said the STS transfer was intended to conceal the movement of petroleum products between the two vessels.
The intelligence agency also claimed the transfer was conducted with both ships' Automatic Identification System (AIS) switched off. The practice increased the risk of environmental damage and maritime accidents in the event of an emergency.
“After the operation was completed, GARNET transmitted false cargo information. Specifically, its AIS indicated that the vessel was sailing empty, in ballast. At present, the tanker has passed through the Strait of Gibraltar. Its likely destinations are the port of Vitino on the White Sea or one of the Baltic ports,” HUR said.
The latest allegations come as scrutiny of global shipping linked to Russian oil exports continues to intensify. A July 7 analysis by the Financial Times found that Greek shipping companies have earned at least $3.8 billion from transporting Russian oil over the past three years despite G7 efforts to reduce the Kremlin's energy revenues.
According to the report, Dynacom Tankers, founded by Greek shipping magnate George Prokopiou, generated at least $915 million in revenue from transporting Russian oil since July 2023. Olympic Shipping and Management, Stealth Maritime, and Polembros Shipping also earned hundreds of millions of dollars from the trade, the Financial Times reported.
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