UK Expands Sanctions to Target 100 More Russian Vessels

The United Kingdom is preparing to implement a significant expansion of its sanctions against Russia’s oil trade, with plans to blacklist up to 100 additional vessels linked to the transport of Russian oil.

This latest action represents the UK’s most extensive sanctions move yet against Russia’s so-called shadow fleet. Once enacted, it will bring the total number of tankers sanctioned by the UK to over 230.

According to British officials, the newly targeted ships have collectively moved more than $24 billion worth of Russian crude and oil products since the beginning of 2024. Some vessels are also suspected of contributing to the damage of underwater cables and pipelines in the Baltic Sea.

“The shadow fleet operation, masterminded by Putin’s cronies, is not just bankrolling the Kremlin’s illegal war in Ukraine – the fleet’s languishing vessels are known to be damaging critical national infrastructure through reckless seafaring in Europe,” said a statement from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office.

The UK has already sanctioned 133 vessels involved in Russia’s oil export network—more than any other European country to date.

“We will do everything in our power to destroy (President Vladimir Putin’s) shadow fleet operation, starve his war machine of oil revenues and protect the subsea infrastructure that we rely on for our everyday lives,” Starmer added.

Earlier this year, in January, the United States rolled out a sweeping round of sanctions covering 183 Russian-controlled and shadow fleet ships—the most extensive single action so far.