UK blacklists 40 shadow fleet ships

The UK is imposing a new wave of sanctions against the Russian oil trade, targeting an additional 40 ships.

The biggest sanctions package against Russia’s shadow fleet brings the total number of oil tankers sanctioned by the UK to 133—more than any other European nation.

Publishing details of the sanctions, Britain said the ships being targeted had transported more than $5bn worth of Russian oil and oil products in the last six months alone.

Last November, in what is now the UK’s second-largest campaign against the shadow fleet, 30 ships were blacklisted, followed by another 20 in December.

“The new sanctions will put further pressure on Putin’s energy revenues, the most vital source of funding for his illegal invasion,” Britain’s Foreign Office said.

Earlier on Monday, the European Union adopted its 16th package of sanctions against Russia, with 74 new vessels added to the sanctions list, bringing the total to 153.

In January, the US announced a massive sanctions action covering 183 Russian-controlled and shadow fleet ships, the largest to date.