Europe EU steps up action against Russia's shadow fleet
The foreign ministers of the EU member states have decided on new sanctions against companies and individuals with links to the so-called Russian shadow fleet. As announced by the Council of Member States, the sanctions affect shipping companies based in the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam and Russia. In addition, business people with direct or indirect links to the large Russian state oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil will be sanctioned.
15.12.2025, 16:56
15.12.2025, 16:57
SDA
The affected parties must now freeze assets held in the EU. In addition, EU citizens and companies are prohibited from making funds available to them and the individuals concerned are also banned from entering the EU.
In the next few days, around 40 more tankers are to be added to the list of ships that are no longer allowed to enter European ports or be insured. This means that around 600 ships will be affected by punitive measures in future. The list is to be updated on a monthly basis in future, said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas at a press conference after the foreign ministers' meeting.
Shadow fleet is Russia's response to oil price cap
Moscow has been using the so-called shadow fleet for years in an attempt to circumvent a price cap on Russian oil introduced by Western supporters of Ukraine. This usually involves using outdated ships and various methods to disguise the origin of oil shipments. Sometimes the transponder of the satellite-based automatic ship identification system (AIS) is switched off or manipulated, sometimes oil is transferred between tankers on the high seas.
Minister of State Gunther Krichbaum, who attended the EU meeting in Brussels on behalf of Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, said that the threat posed by the shadow fleet was palpable. That is why further action must be taken against them.
