Russia is illegally transshipping oil in the high seas near Greece, — Defense Intelligence

The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine published data on a vessel illegally transshipping oil near Greece on the War&Sanctions platform.

Since July 2024, the tanker QUARTANUS (IMO 9247443) without Western insurance has been illegally transshipping oil between tankers right in the open sea near the coast of Greece and Cyprus, the Main Intelligence Directorate reported.

Such operations pose an environmental threat, allow the aggressor to hide the origin of oil, evade international control and ensure its supply to third countries, bypassing sanctions.

The Main Intelligence Directorate also publishes data on 159 oil tankers on the War&Sanctions platform, most of which are part of the so-called “shadow fleet” of the Russian Federation, as well as information about 55 captains of this fleet.

In total, data on 577 such oil tankers has been published in the portal database. The total deadweight of the identified vessels exceeds 63 million metric tons.

The GUR emphasized the need to increase sanctions pressure on the Russian economy, in particular:

• lowering the marginal price for oil and oil products;

• refusing the G7 and EU countries from importing oil products produced from Russian raw materials;

• banning STS operations in the territorial waters of the G7 and EU countries;

• strengthening control over the insurance coverage of vessels in the Western market;

• introducing a complete ban on the import of Russian LNG and pipeline fuel.

Earlier, USM reported that the European Commission presented the 18th package of sanctions against Russia, within the framework of which it is proposed to replenish the list of the “shadow fleet” and lower the ceiling for oil prices.