Among most high-profile targets are 20 oil tankers linked to what has been referred to as Russian President Putin’s ‘shadow fleet’.
The UK announced a fresh package of sanctions against Russia, targeting key sectors of the country’s economy in response to what Downing Street described as President Vladimir Putin’s “continued aggression.”
In a statement released, the government confirmed that 30 new targets have been sanctioned, focusing on Russia’s financial, military, and energy sectors.
“The 30 targets strike across Russia’s financial, military, and energy sectors in response to Putin’s continued aggression. His repeated refusals to engage seriously in peace have redoubled the UK’s resolve to apply a stranglehold on the Russian economy,” Downing Street said.
Among the most high-profile targets are 20 oil tankers linked to what has been referred to as Putin’s “shadow fleet”—a network of vessels allegedly used to circumvent sanctions and continue illicit oil exports.
Two companies, Orion Star Group LLC and Valegro LLC-FZ, have also been sanctioned for their involvement in managing and crewing these vessels.
The government said the measures are intended to tighten restrictions on the Kremlin’s access to critical funding while simultaneously disrupting networks that help sustain the Russian war effort in Ukraine.
Today’s package also includes sanctions against the Russian military agency GUGI, which leads the development of underwater intelligence-gathering operations. Closer to home, the UK has sanctioned two residents—Vladimir Pristoupa and Olech Tkacz—accused of operating a network of shell companies that funneled more than $120 million worth of electronics to Russia.
You can read official statement and see full list of sanction targets here.
NB8++ joint statement on the shadow fleet
In addition to this sNordic-Baltic 8++ released a statement on joint action to further counter Russia’s shadow fleet: “We, the Foreign Ministers and government representatives of Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom have met today to address the challenge posed by the Russian shadow fleet. We call for further joint and coordinated action to effectively address Russian attempts to circumvent international sanctions.”
