EU expands sanctions on Russian shadow fleet operators
European Union officials announced on 15 December 2025 a package of restrictive measures aimed at targeting Russias shadow fleet of oil tankers, adding businesspeople and shipping firms accused of supporting sanctioned exports. EU officials claim these listed actors control vessels that transport crude oil or petroleum products while concealing their origin, engaging in risky practices like flag hopping and employing opaque ownership structures to transport such materials.
The sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans on five businessmen linked directly or indirectly to Russian state energy majors Rosneft and Lukoil, as well as four shipping companies operating from the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam and Russia. Among the designated firms are UAE based Nova Shipmanagement and Citrine Marine, Vietnam based Hung Phat Maritime Trading, and Russia based SeverTransBunker, which are alleged to own or manage tankers deployed in Russias shadow fleet. The EU measure builds on earlier monthly blacklisting of individual vessels and extends pressure to the network of intermediaries behind them.
Businesspeople and trading groups face increasing scrutiny from regulators.
The new designations highlight traders and logistics facilitators suspected of structuring deals to keep Russian oil flowing despite EU price cap and embargo restrictions. Canada-based Pakistani businessman Murtaza Ali Lakhani was named as a key figure who helps facilitate Rosneft shipments by arranging transport, finance and insurance outside traditional Western channels. Furthermore, Anar Madatli and Talat Safarov associated with Dubai-based oil trading group 2Rivers (formerly Coral Energy) for organizing exports via non transparent tanker fleets were named by EU authorities as well as Canada based Pakistani businessman Murtaza Ali Lakhani as key figures in Canada who helps facilitate Rosneft crude exports via non transparent Western channels.
In its official journal, the Council said the listed individuals use complex corporate vehicles and a dispersed fleet of elderly tankers to move crude and products in a way that obscures cargo provenance. Brussels has been coordinating with the United Kingdom and, in some cases, the United States to regularly add tankers and associated entities to sanctions lists, reflecting a broader effort by Western regulators and flag states to disrupt a fleet that analysts estimate numbers in the hundreds of ships worldwide.
EU outlines legal pathway to more aggressive enforcement at sea
EU member states are working together on an initiative that would revise their common interpretation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in order to broaden grounds for boarding suspicious vessels associated with Russias shadow fleet. The initiative, discussed at Brussels and reported by regional maritime sources, positions shadow tankers as particular threats to subsea infrastructure as well as sanctions regime integrity; where false flagging or manipulation of ship identification systems is suspected.
Under the draft text, coastal authorities would gain clearer legal justification to stop, search and detain vessels when there are sufficient indications that a ship is operating under a false flag or engaging in practices that endanger pipelines, cables and other underwater assets. The declaration reiterates existing international rules but presents a more assertive reading intended to signal enforcement intent. Member states are also updating national laws to require more rigorous reporting of ship identity data, and countries including Denmark have already stepped up inspections and other measures aimed at shadow carriers transiting their waters.
Increased list of approved shadow tankers and systemic risks
The EU sanctions package comes on top of an ongoing monthly process which has seen 117 tankers associated with Russia's shadow fleet placed under restrictions; out of an estimated 600-1400 vessel fleet. Maritime risk analysts note that these ships tend to be older vessels operating with limited access to Western classification, insurance and port state control - creating more environmental concerns in chokepoints and congested coastal zones.
By targeting shipowners, managers, brokers and registry operators, EU policymakers aim to make it harder for shadow fleet operators to secure flags, insurance and technical services, while discouraging third country providers from supporting opaque trades. The move comes as other sanctioned producers such as Iran and Venezuela also rely on off radar fleets and complex ownership chains to move hydrocarbons, underscoring a structural shift in the global tanker market that is closely watched by P and I clubs, underwriters and mainstream shipowners.
Ukrainian pressure on shadow fleet complements EU actions
EU measures coincide with a separate Ukrainian campaign against Russian shadow fleet logistics. On 13 December 2025, Kyiv imposed sanctions on 656 vessels identified by Kyiv as components of Russias shadow tanker network across over 50 flag states including Gambia, Sierra Leone Panama and Cameroon where Russian tanker networks use flags from Gambia Sierra Leone Panama and Cameroon flag registries frequently for Russias tanker network. Ukrainian authorities pledged to share detailed information with these registries so as to press for withdraw licences or stricter oversight for flagging practices by these registries and pledged their cooperation when dealing with these vessels identified by Russian shadow fleet operations and operations against shadow tanker networks using flags from Gambia Sierra Leone Panama and Cameroon flag states and cameroon flagged vessels use.
Ukraine has shown itself capable of using both legal and diplomatic means against shadow fleet units in the Black Sea, employing domestically produced Sea Baby naval drones to strike at Russian oil tankers already subject to international sanctions - an action analysts describe as de facto blockading them with an aim of raising risk and insurance costs associated with sanctioned trade from Russian ports. When coupled with EU financial and legal measures as well as Ukrainian sanctions and kinetic actions against shadow tanker ecosystem, mounting pressure is being placed upon shadow tanker ecosystem as winter energy trade flows increase in turn.