On 9 May, the UK government placed on the sanctions lists about 100 tankers of the Russian shadow fleet involved in transporting oil in circumvention of restrictions.
The list included five citizens of Azerbaijan: Tahir Garayev, Akhmed Kerimov, Anar Madatli, Talat Safarov and Etibar Eyyub. They run the oil company Coral Energy Group. In addition, Britain added to the list the Russian insurance company Zlagoda, two companies from Hong Kong – BX Energy and Nord Axis Ltd, as well as the Norwegian Romarine as. It is alleged that they are involved in Russian “shadow fleet” activities.
A government press release said the sanctioned tankers form the core of Russia’s shadow fleet exporting oil. They have transported $24 billion worth of oil since the beginning of 2024.
“Every step we take to increase pressure on Russia and achieve a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine is another step towards security and prosperity in the UK. Russia’s threat to our national security cannot be underestimated, so we will do everything in our power to destroy the shadow navy, cut off its war machine from oil revenues and protect the seabed infrastructure we rely on in our daily lives,” said Prime Minister Keir Starmer as he announced the new sanctions.
The main package of sanctions targets the “old and dangerous shadow fleet”:
“The shadow fleet operation, organised by Putin’s cronies, is not just funding the Kremlin’s illegal war in Ukraine-it is known that the fleet’s declining vessels are damaging critical national infrastructure from – for reckless navigation in Europe,” the release said.
The release also notes that tankers are damaging submarine cables in Europe.
The British government has previously imposed sanctions against several dozen tankers of the shadow fleet carrying Russian oil. According to the press release, the introduction of the new package will mean that the UK has imposed sanctions against more shadow fleet vessels than any other country.
Earlier, the British Foreign Office announced the Prime Minister’s announcement of a large package of sanctions targeting the “shadow fleet” carrying Russian oil. By some estimates, the sanctions have paralysed 200 ships – almost half of Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s entire fleet, the Foreign Office said.