shadow fleet

Ukraine sanctions 225 shadow fleet captains under Zelenskyy decree

Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed decrees enacting National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine decisions to impose sanctions on Russia’s shadow fleet and individuals linked to its military-industrial complex, the President’s Office said on Feb. 21.

21 February, 04:11 PM

Britain eyeing seizures of Russian shadow fleet tankers

Britain is considering military seizures of Russian shadow fleet tankers to enforce sanctions and further cut Moscow’s oil revenues, potentially “opening a new front” against Russia, The Guardian reported on Feb. 7.

7 February, 08:43 PM

EU preparing 20th Russia sanctions package targeting oil, banks, shadow fleet

The European Union is preparing its 20th package of sanctions against Russia that would intensify pressure on Kremlin oil revenues, expand restrictions on banks and the shadow fleet, and target sanctions-evasion schemes, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 30, citing people familiar with the talks.

31 January, 12:25 PM

Spain escorts sanctioned Russian oil tanker to Morocco without arrest

A Spanish rescue vessel escorted a tanker under EU sanctions for transporting Russian oil to a port in Morocco without detaining it, Reuters reported on Jan. 27.

28 January, 04:23 PM

Russian ‘shadow fleet’ oil tanker adrift in Mediterranean

Targeted by EU and UK sanctions for transporting Russian oil, tanker vessel Progress appears to be drifting off the coast of Algeria in the Mediterranean Sea, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 23.

24 January, 01:14 AM

France detains tanker sailing from Russia under fake flag

French navy detained Grinch oil tanker in the Alboran Sea, the western part of the Mediterranean, while it was sailing from Russia’s port of Murmansk under what authorities say was a false flag, Mediterranean Maritime Prefecture wrote on Jan. 22.

23 January, 08:16 AM

France confirms Mediterranean seizure of Russian oil tanker sailing under false flag

The French Navy seized the oil tanker Grinch in the Alboran Sea, near Gibraltar, after discovering it was sailing under a false flag, France’s Mediterranean maritime prefecture said on Jan. 22.

23 January, 05:31 AM

Another Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tanker seized in Caribbean

The United States military has detained the Russian-linked oil tanker Sagitta in the Caribbean Sea, U.S. Southern Command said on Jan. 20.

21 January, 02:28 AM

Germany forces Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tanker to turn away from Baltic Sea

Arcusat, an oil tanker registered in maritime databases as “never existed,” reversed course en route to German territorial waters in the Baltic Sea and is now heading toward Russia’s Arctic coast, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 16.

16 January, 09:23 PM

U.S. plans to intercept sanctioned Russian oil tanker—report

The United States intends to intercept a Russian oil tanker previously bound for Venezuela, CNN reported on Jan. 6, citing four people familiar with planning.

6 January, 09:53 PM

Russia abuses maritime law to protect its oil tankers—report

Moscow is exploiting the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea to give legal cover to its oil smuggling and sabotage operations in Europe, UK newspaper The Telegraph said in an article published on Dec. 19.

20 December 2025, 03:26 AM

EU imposes new sanctions on businessmen and firms backing Russia’s shadow fleet

The European Union Council imposed sanctions on five individuals and four organizations accused of supporting Russia’s so-called shadow fleet on Dec. 15.

15 December 2025, 06:47 PM

Ukraine striking Russian oil tankers raises no objections in Washington—report

The administration of President Donald Trump has effectively permitted Ukraine to start attacking oil tankers transporting Russian crude in violation of international sanctions, The Atlantic reported on Dec. 12, citing U.S. and Ukrainian officials.

13 December 2025, 01:16 AM

Russia struggles to protect its shadow fleet tankers

Russia’s shadow fleet of old, uninsured tankers used to evade sanctions is increasingly suffering damage and destruction, revealing how vulnerable this covert logistics network has become.

12 December 2025, 10:26 AM

Ukraine warns Turkey of Russian ship carrying stolen grain

Kyiv has notified the Turkish government of a cargo ship sailing across the Black Sea, carrying 6,000 tons of grain stolen from occupied Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said on Dec. 8.

8 December 2025, 11:38 PM

Shipping company cuts Russia operations after tanker attack

Turkish maritime shipping company Besiktas Shipping will stop all dealings with Russia after one of its oil tankers, the Mersin, was badly damaged by explosions near the coast of Senegal, Reuters reported on Dec. 2.

2 December 2025, 11:46 PM

Putin threatens expanded strikes on Ukrainian ports

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has threatened to expand strikes on Ukrainian ports and the vessels that dock there after a series of attacks on Moscow’s sanction-busting “shadow fleet” oil tankers in the Black Sea.

2 December 2025, 10:19 PM

Turkey uneasy about Ukraine attacking Russian oil tankers in Black Sea

The recent attacks on oil tankers believed to be part of Russia’s sanction-busting “shadow fleet” represent a “disturbing escalation” that threatens maritime security in the Black Sea, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Dec. 1.

1 December 2025, 11:58 PM

Russian ‘shadow fleet’ oil tanker on fire in Black Sea

Oil tanker Kairos, believed to be part of Russia’s sanction-dodging “shadow fleet,” caught fire on Nov. 28 after an explosion in the Black Sea near the Bosporus Strait, Reuters reported.

28 November 2025, 10:00 PM

EU leaders announce three major agreements on Ukraine

EU leaders at the European Council summit reached three important agreements on Ukraine, European Council president António Costa said, Interfax reported on Oct. 24.

24 October 2025, 10:00 AM

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