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London to Impose Largest Sanctions on Russian Oil Vessels

UK authorities claim tankers are harming crucial underwater installations; Russia dismisses these charges, labeling them an effort to limit oil exports from the country.

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UK government claims tankers are damaging vital subaquatic infrastructure; Russia denies...
UK government claims tankers are damaging vital subaquatic infrastructure; Russia denies allegations, calling them an attempt to curtail oil exports from the nation.

London to Impose Largest Sanctions on Russian Oil Vessels

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UK Announces New Sanctions on Russian Oil Tankers

Get ready for the UK government's latest move against Russian oil tankers, allegedly part of the mysterious shadow fleet. The whopping list includes no fewer than 100 vessels.

According to the UK's official report, these ships have transported a staggering $24 billion worth of cargo since the start of 2024. Some of these vessels are accused of causing damage to critical underwater infrastructure, claims made in a recent announcement.

The UK heavily relies on this underwater infrastructure, not just for seamless communication through telecommunications cables, but also for the supply of essential energy sources like electricity, oil, and gas, the cabinet emphasizes.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will be announcing these new sanctions at the Joint Expeditionary Force countries' summit in Oslo on May 9.

Russia, however, call these accusations nonsense and a ploy to limit their oil exports. The Foreign Ministry believes that the West is attempting to suppress Russian oil shipments. The department has warned that any attempts to restrict the rights of Russian ships will be seen as a hostile act, leading to stern retaliation. Russia views these sanctions as illegal and demands them to be revoked immediately.

interestingly, NATO has not uncovered any evidence of Russian involvement in cable cuts or damage to gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea, as reported by The Wall Street Journal in March.

The EU will join the UK in imposing restrictions on tankers linked to the shadow fleet as part of their 17th sanctions package against Russia. The Financial Times has reported that this action will target 149 ships.

As the story unfolds, it remains to be seen how these measures will affect the global energy market and the ongoing tensions between Russia and the West. Stay tuned for updates!

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About the Shadow Fleet

  • Sanctions Enforcement: The US, EU, and UK have been imposing tough sanctions on Russian ships, particularly the shadow fleet since early 2024. The US alone sanctioned 158 oil tankers involved in the Russian energy trade in January 2025[2][4]. These sanctions have managed to reduce the shadow fleet's capacity by approximately 46%, without causing significant disruptions to global energy markets[4].
  • Allegations of Damaging Underwater Infrastructure: Reports do not provide definitive evidence of Russian oil tankers or the shadow fleet damaging underwater infrastructure. The focus primarily revolves around the sanctions and their implications for oil exports.

European Union's Response

  • EU Sanctions: The EU aims to strengthen its actions against the shadow fleet by compelling oil phase-out plans, ratcheting up diplomatic pressure on the flag states of these vessels, and partnering with the International Maritime Organization to improve safety standards[5].
  • Environmental Concerns: The EU points out that these vessels pose a significant environmental risk, given their deteriorating condition, making oil spills and pollution more likely[5].

[1] "Russian ships face new EU sanctions, officials say," Politico, 6 May 2025, https://www.politico.eu/article/russian-ships-face-new-eu-sanctions-officials-say/

[2] "U.S. Sanctions 183 Russian Ships Over Energy Trade," Washington Post, 1 February 2025, https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/02/01/us-sanctions-183-russian-ships-over-energy-trade/

[3] "The Changing Landscape of the Russian Shadow Fleet," Center for Strategic and International Studies, 12 February 2025, https://www.csis.org/analysis/changing-landscape-russian-shadow-fleet

[4] "The Enduring Echoes of Sanctions on the Russian Shadow Fleet," Brookings, 15 March 2025, https://www.brookings.edu/research/the-enduring-echoes-of-sanctions-on-the-russian-shadow-fleet/

[5] "EU to Strengthen Sanctions Against Russian Shadow Fleet," European Commission, 5 May 2025, https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_25_2751

  1. The sanctions, including those imposed by the UK, US, and EU, have targeted the Russian shadow fleet, which has allegedly transported a significant amount of cargo since the start of 2024.
  2. The UK claims that some vessels from the shadow fleet have caused damage to underwater infrastructure, such as important telecommunications cables and energy supply lines.
  3. The UK's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to announce new sanctions on Russian oil tankers accused of damaging underwater infrastructure at the Joint Expeditionary Force countries' summit in Oslo on May 9.
  4. Russia denies these accusations and views the sanctions as a ploy to limit their oil exports, seeing any restrictions on their ships as a hostile act that will lead to stern retaliation.
  5. The EU, alongside the UK, will implement restrictions on tankers linked to the shadow fleet as part of their 17th sanctions package against Russia, targeting 149 ships.
  6. The effects of these measures on the global energy markets and ongoing tensions between Russia and the West remain uncertain, with the global community closely following the developments in the politics, policy-and-legislation, finance, industry, general-news, and war-and-conflicts sectors.

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