The UK has imposed its largest wave of sanctions to date against Russia’s shadow fleet, including ships found not to be carrying correct insurance while transiting the English Channel.
Alongside the 30 vessels targeted, insurance companies enabling the fleet have also been sanctioned.
“The move will further constrain the Kremlin’s ability to fund their illegal war in Ukraine and their malign activity worldwide, and brings the total number of oil tankers sanctioned by the UK to 73,” the British government stated in a release yesterday.
Foreign secretary, David Lammy said: “Russia’s oil revenues are fuelling the fires of war and destruction in Ukraine. I will work with our G7 partners and beyond to exert relentless pressure on the Kremlin, disrupt the flow of money into its war chest, erode its military machine, and constrain its malign behaviour worldwide.”
These sanctions highlight the impact of the Department for Transport’s new insurance reporting mechanism, with more than 43 vessels with dubious insurance being challenged to supply their details as they pass through UK waters.
On November 12, the vessel Ksena ignored UK challenges and has now been sanctioned.
Russian insurers Alfastrakhovanie and VSK have also been sanctioned for enabling the shadow fleet.