Overview

• The UK unveiled a sanctions package targeting up to 100 tankers from Russia's shadow fleet, which has transported over $24 billion in cargo since early 2024.
• Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the measures at a Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) meeting in Oslo, emphasizing the need to disrupt Kremlin oil revenues and safeguard undersea infrastructure.
• The shadow fleet, comprising aging and often uninsured vessels, is used to bypass Western oil embargoes and price caps and to transport stolen Ukrainian grain.
• Concerns over environmental and security risks have grown, with allegations of shadow fleet involvement in sabotage of Baltic Sea pipelines and cables earlier this year.
• The European Union is preparing its own sanctions package to further restrict Russia's oil transport operations, complementing the UK's actions.