Australia Sanctions 60 Ships Tied to Russia’s Shadow Fleet

Australia has announced sanctions on 60 vessels associated with Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, which is used to sidestep international limits on oil and gas exports. This marks the country's first sanctions action specifically aimed at the clandestine fleet.

These ships have reportedly been involved in evasive tactics, such as frequently changing their national registration (flag-hopping), turning off tracking devices, and operating with insufficient insurance coverage — practices that raise both security and environmental concerns.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong emphasized that this step reinforces Australia’s ongoing stance against Russia’s war in Ukraine. “Australia has imposed over 1,400 sanctions in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. We will continue to take coordinated and decisive action to protect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and disrupt Russia’s ability to fund its aggression,” she said.

She further demanded that Russia “immediately end this war and withdraw from Ukrainian territory.”

The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) welcomed the move, expressing gratitude to Minister Wong and her team for their leadership. “These sanctions send a strong and necessary signal that Australia will not be complicit in funding Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine,” the group stated.

The AFUO also called on the Australian government to go further by banning all petroleum products refined from Russian crude oil to completely shut down what they described as a remaining loophole.

Australia’s decision follows a similar wave of sanctions from its allies. The UK, during the G7 Summit in Canada this week, imposed restrictions on 20 more tankers linked to Russia’s covert oil network. In May, the EU also expanded its sanctions list by another 200 vessels, bringing the total to around 340. The EU is expected to announce its 18th package of sanctions against Russia next week.