Britain Intends to Sanction Russia's Clandestine Maritime Operations
Here's the rewritten article:
UK Puts the Squeeze on Russia's Shady Oil Tankers
Ready your ties, mate, as the UK government is set to crack down on up to 100 oil tankers from Russia's so-called "shadow fleet." According to Reuters, this move marks the UK's most substantial clampdown on the shady fleet to date.
On May 9, during a European defense summit in Oslo, Prime Minister Keir Starmer will unveil the new sanctions against these oil tankers. The finer details are yet to be revealed.
Bloomberg reported earlier that the EU's upcoming sanctions against Russia will include 60 physical and legal entities, as well as ships from the shadow fleet. The sanctions are expected to affect around 150 vessels.
The foreign ministers of EU member states approved the 16th package of sanctions against Russia on February 24. The EU issued restrictions on the owners of Russia's shadow fleet ships and those associated with Russia's military-industrial complex.
The US has already taken a stance, establishing a fund to combat Russia's "ghost tankers."
This crackdown on the shadow fleet isn't a one-man show, mate. The UK's actions align with the EU and US's broader push to target Russia's maritime resources. Earlier in 2025, the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) slapped sanctions on about 183 vessels involved in the Russian energy trade, with around 158 being oil tankers. These sanctions resulted in a significant reduction – about 46% – in the active capacity of Russia’s shadow fleet by March 2025. Despite fears of market disruptions, mainstream tanker fleets stepped up their operations, helping to compensate for the sidelined shadow fleet ships.
So, this new round of sanctions from the UK is a significant step forward in the collective effort to dismantle Russia's shadow fleet, aiming to sever oil revenues fueling Russia’s war effort and protecting critical subsea infrastructure, such as undersea cables, from damage by these reckless vessels. Let's hope this push helps put an end to Russia's dark oil dealings. [1][3]
[1] "UK plans to sanction 100 Russian oil tankers in major clampdown on 'shadow fleet'," The Independent, May 5, 2025.
[2] "US Sanctions 183 Vessels Involved in Russian Energy Trade," Forbes, March 15, 2025.
[3] "UK to tighten noose around Russia by targeting 'shadow fleet'", The Telegraph, May 5, 2025.
[4] "How the US and allies are targeting Russia’s maritime trade by leveraging sanctions," Council on Foreign Relations, April 25, 2025.
- The UK government plans to impose new sanctions on up to 100 oil tankers from Russia's so-called "shadow fleet," a move that marks the UK's most substantial clampdown on the shady fleet to date.
- According to The Independent, during a European defense summit in Oslo on May 9, Prime Minister Keir Starmer will unveil the details of these sanctions against the Russian oil tankers.
- Bloomberg and the Council on Foreign Relations have reported that the EU's upcoming sanctions against Russia will likely include around 150 vessels, as well as 60 physical and legal entities, and ships from the shadow fleet.
- These sanctions are part of a broader push from the UK, EU, and US to target Russia's maritime resources, with the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) already having slapped sanctions on about 183 vessels involved in the Russian energy trade.
- The collective effort aims to sever oil revenues fueling Russia’s war effort and protect critical subsea infrastructure, such as undersea cables, from damage by these reckless vessels, as reported by The Telegraph.
- This push against Russia's "shadow fleet" is part of the general news and politics surrounding war-and-conflicts and the finance and energy industries.
