The UK has announced a new round of sanctions against Russia’s shadow fleet, targeting 18 additional oil tankers and 4 liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels.
These sanctions aim to disrupt Russia’s fleet, which attempts to evade international restrictions.
The total number of Russian oil tankers under UK sanctions now stands at 43, preventing these vessels from accessing UK ports and British maritime services.
The shadow fleet, which seeks to bypass sanctions, poses risks to global trade and environmental safety, including potential oil spills.
The UK aims to reduce these risks and limit Russia’s revenue from energy exports.
The sanctions follow a campaign by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who called for global action against the shadow fleet at the European Political Community Summit in July.
This effort has gained support from 47 countries, including the US and Canada, as well as the European Union. The group is working to tighten sanctions and reduce Russia’s energy income.
Foreign Secretary, David Lammy said: “We must combat malign Russian activity at every turn, whether illicit tactics to bolster Putin’s war chest, their use of cyber-attacks or barbarism on the front line in Ukraine.
“The UK is leading the charge against Putin’s desperate and dangerous attempts to cling on to his energy revenues, with his shadow fleet placing coastlines across Europe and the world in jeopardy.”
