The British Government on Wednesday imposed new sanctions on Russia’s “shadow fleet” of tankers used to export oil, despite a Western embargo imposed after its invasion of Ukraine.
Experts argue that the “ghost fleet” of tankers with unclear ownership or lack of proper insurance has allowed the Kremlin to continue exporting despite the embargo and global oil price cap.
The announcement occurred as Foreign Minister David Lammy visited Kyiv in a rare combined trip with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and as Russia’s reported procurement of Iranian weapons sparked concern.
It is the third time the UK has attempted to clamp down on what the foreign ministry describes as “critical revenue sources funding Putin’s war machine,” increasing the total number of ships sanctioned to 25.
The ten ships targeted in this round of fines were described as “high-volume offenders.”
Under the sanctions, they would be “banned from entering UK ports and denied access to the UK Ship Register.”
Lanky continued, “Today’s sanctions significantly impair Russia’s capacity to trade oil through its shadow fleet.
“Alongside our partners, we will continue to send a stark message to Russia that the international community stands with Ukraine and we will not tolerate this illicit fleet,” He wrote in a statement.
The most recent British action to bolster assistance for Ukraine coincides with Lammy and Blinken’s scheduled meeting to talk about loosening sanctions against Ukraine related to the shooting of Western weapons into Russia.
President Joe Biden had stated on Tuesday that the US was thinking about removing the limitations on long-range missiles produced domestically.
Written by Jennifer Amarachi
