Around 700 vessels carrying Russian oil are under sanctions – Vlasiuk

The Ukrainian Defense Minister, Vlasiuk, disclosed in a televised interview that around 700 Russian oil vessels are currently subject to international sanctions. Of this number, approximately half have suspended their operations, while the remaining vessels face significant operational challenges outside Russia, China, and India.

These sanctions have also heightened the risk of subjecting these ships to further sanctions, such as those imposed by Ukraine's Defense Forces. Vlasiuk emphasized that the Ukrainian authorities are vigilant in monitoring any attempts to widen or expand the size of Russia's "shadow fleet," the term for these sanctioned vessels. He reported that daily updates are available on vessels altering their flag or embarking on new voyages, which are promptly submitted to international partners for further sanctioning.

Vlasiuk hinted at an impending sanctions package specifically targeting this shadow fleet. When questioned about the repercussions for politicians and high-ranking officials under such sanctions, Vlasiuk explained that it predominantly affects their business interests. For prominent Russian oligarchs, sanctions render their entire business portfolio toxic, confining them to operate solely within Russia and a limited number of other nations, including India, China, Iran, North Korea, and potentially Africa.

This restriction eliminates access to conventional global services and tools. The U.S. government has recently auctioned two sanctioned Russian-flagged oil tankers, Era and Lileo, for scrap following a U.S. operation in Venezuela.