EU Approves New Sanctions Targeting Russian Shadow Fleet

European Union member states have reached an agreement on a new set of sanctions aimed at Russia, which includes measures against nearly 200 vessels that are part of the so-called shadow fleet—used to evade existing restrictions on Russian oil and gas exports.

This latest sanctions package, expected to be formally adopted next week, comes as Russia and Ukraine could potentially meet for their first peace negotiations in Istanbul on Thursday.

This 17th round of EU sanctions is broad in scope and includes plans to blacklist 189 ships, most of which are older oil tankers. Once enacted, the total number of sanctioned vessels will rise to approximately 340.

“I welcome the agreement on our 17th sanctions package against Russia,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated on X. She continued: “This war has to end. We will keep the pressure high on the Kremlin.”

In addition to the maritime sanctions, the package also targets 30 businesses involved in the sale or transport of dual-use items—goods that can serve both civilian and military purposes. A further 75 individuals and organizations are set to be sanctioned due to their connections with Russia’s defense sector.

Other provisions in the package address Russia’s hybrid tactics, imposing restrictions on media operations, ships, and companies suspected of interfering with critical infrastructure such as underwater cables, airports, and IT networks.

The EU’s move follows similar action from the United Kingdom, which last week introduced its most extensive sanctions yet on the shadow fleet, targeting an additional 100 tankers. This comes after Britain had previously sanctioned around 130 vessels linked to Russia’s energy exports.