The UK has today (11 September) sanctioned 10 vessels operating
as part of Putin's ‘shadow fleet', in the latest crack down on
critical revenue sources funding Putin's war machine.
Today's action will directly target vessels in Putin's ‘shadow
fleet', used by Russia as a desperate attempt to undermine UK and
G7 sanctions and continue unfettered trade in Russian
oil.
Russia's oil exports are Putin's most critical revenue source for
funding his illegal war in Ukraine, accounting for roughly a
quarter of the Russian budget in 2023. Today we are taking
decisive action to limit that revenue.
The ships targeted are all ‘high-volume offenders' – vessels
operating around the clock to transport as much Russian oil as
possible. These ships will now be barred from entering UK ports
and will be refused access to the UK Ship
Register.
Just three of the vessels targeted today; NICOLAY ZUYEV (IMO
9610781), NS ASIA (IMO 9413561) and ZALIV ANIVA (IMO 9418494),
have collectively carried more than $5bn worth of Russian oil
since Russia's full-scale illegal invasion begun.
Foreign Secretary said:
Putin's war machine is funded by a dark and illicit economic
system that this government is committed to destabilising.
Today's sanctions further undermine Russia's ability to trade in
oil via 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.
Russia has been forced to spend over $8 billion amassing this
shadow fleet. But with sanctioned tankers loitering and unable to
load oil, we are determined to make Putin's investment an
expensive misstep for the Kremlin. Our action will help to
counter Russian attempts to undermine and dodge economic
sanctions.
Previous UK action against individual shadow ships have left
vessels materially disrupted, with the vast majority of them
idling outside ports, and unable to carry on their trade in
Russian oil.
Today's announcement brings the total number of ‘shadow fleet'
ships specified to 25 and follows the UK's “call to action” in
July which aims to bring a halt to this dangerous
trade.
The vessels sanctioned today are:
NIKOLAY ZUYEV (IMO 9610781)
NS CLIPPER (IMO 9341081)
NS CORONA (IMO 9341079)
ZALIV ANIVA (IMO 9418494)
OLYMPIYSKY PROSPECT (IMO 9511387)
LEONID LOZA (IMO 9412347)
NS ASIA (IMO 9413561)
SCF BALTICA (IMO 9305568)
VLADIMIR TIKHONOV (IMO 9311622)
SCF VANKOR (IMO 9316127)
Background:
- So far, sanctions have deprived Russia of over $400bn worth
of assets and revenues since February 2022. That's equivalent to
four more years of funding for the invasion. The UK has
sanctioned over 2,000 individuals and entities under our Russia
sanctions regime.
- Ships specified under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit)
Regulations 2019 are prohibited from entering a port in the UK,
may be given a movement or a port entry direction, can be
detained, and will be refused permission to register on the UK
Ship Register or have its existing registration terminated. In
addition, the Oil Price Cap exception is not applicable to
services in relation to specified ships, or to the supply or
delivery of Russian oil or oil products in specified ships.
- The Office for Financial Sanctions Implementation has
published guidance on the Russian Oil Services ban. Limited
exceptions apply and licences may be granted for specified ships,
as set out in Part 7 of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit)
Regulations 2019.
- View the full sanctions list.
