US Senate committee approves bill against Russia’s shadow fleet
2.02.2026 - 12:14
In the US, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved a bipartisan bill that should introduce tougher liability for sanctioned vessels carrying Russian oil.
The bill is called the SHADOW Fleet Sanctions Act of 2025, said Vladyslav Vlasyuk, the Presidential Commissioner for Sanctions Policy.
As the expert noted, the essence of the law is to simplify and speed up the identification of shadow fleet vessels, introduce strict liability for ship-to-ship operations with sanctioned tankers, and synchronize US sanctions with European ones.
“This is an important signal to G7 partners that Washington as a whole supports active opposition to the shadow fleet — against the backdrop of discussions about a full maritime services ban with or without US participation,” Vlasyuk notes.
Currently, the Shadow Fleet Sanctions Act must be approved by the full Senate, and then by the House of Representatives. After that, it must be signed by US President Donald Trump before it can take effect.
Vlasyuk also previously noted that the Russian oil export system is still adapting, including through the “shadow fleet” and opaque routes.
