United Kingdom: The UK has announced plans to impose new sanctions on up to 100 Russian oil tankers used to evade international restrictions, in a bid to cut off funding for Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will unveil the measures at the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) summit in Oslo, where leaders from ten north European nations are gathering to bolster support for Ukraine. The targeted vessels have transported more than $23.89 billion (£18 billion) worth of oil and gas since the beginning of 2024.
The UK government says the tankers form part of a so-called ‘shadow fleet’ operated by the Kremlin to circumvent Western sanctions introduced after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Officials describe the ships as decrepit and dangerous, accusing them of engaging in reckless seafaring and contributing to recent damage to critical subsea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. Under the new measures, the vessels will be banned from docking at British ports and could be detained if found in UK waters.
Speaking ahead of the summit, Starmer pledged that the UK would destroy the shadow fleet operation and starve Putin’s war machine of oil revenues, calling it a vital step towards peace and regional security.
Starmer stated that, “The UK will do everything in its power to protect the subsea infrastructure, cut off the Kremlin’s illegal funding sources, and work with allies to hold Russia accountable.”
The Joint Expeditionary Force, which includes Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands, is expected to announce additional support for Ukraine during the Oslo meeting.
In December 2024, the UK sanctioned 133 Russian-linked vessels during a previous JEF summit, as part of its wider efforts to isolate the Russian economy and reduce its capacity to sustain the war in Ukraine.
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