Defense Intelligence: Russia has activated “gray” maritime fuel supply schemes after attacks on refineries
15.07.2026 - 13:46
Against the backdrop of Ukraine’s effective strikes on Russia’s oil refining infrastructure, the Kremlin has activated “gray” schemes for refining petroleum products.
This was reported by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
Ukrainian military intelligence has recorded the implementation of one of such schemes through the Indian oil refining company Nayara Energy, 49.13% of whose shares are owned by the Russian state company Rosneft. Through this enterprise, crude oil products are processed with subsequent export through the “shadow fleet” network.
Thus, on June 20, 2026, the tanker of the Russian “shadow fleet” AGNI (IMO 9314167) left the Nayara Energy oil depot with almost 67.5 thousand tons of petroleum products. The declared destination of the vessel was the sector west of the Suez Canal in the area of the Egyptian port of Port Said.
There, another tanker of the “shadow fleet” GARNET (IMO 9577094) was waiting for it to carry out STS-transfer of oil products (ship-to-ship cargo transfer).
The transfer of oil products from AGNI to GARNET was carried out with the AIS (automatic identification system) turned off, which in the event of an emergency could lead to an environmental disaster and accidents.
After the operation was completed, GARNET submitted unreliable data about the cargo. In particular, the AIS indicated that the vessel was empty (in ballast). As of now, the tanker has passed the Strait of Gibraltar. Its probable destinations are the port of Vitino in the White Sea or one of the ports of the Baltic.
The MoD Defense Intelligence project of Ukraine War&Sanctions previously identified the AGNI and GARNET vessels as tankers of the “shadow fleet” of the aggressor state.
The AGNI tanker is affiliated with the Indian company GatikShip Management. In 2022-2023, this company was one of the largest operators of the “shadow fleet”, which ensured the export of Russian oil and petroleum products in circumvention of Western sanctions. The company was the largest carrier of fossil fuels in the interests of Rosneft.
Due to increased attention from the international community, Gatik quickly reregistered its fleet to related companies, in particular newly created ones in India and the UAE, effectively initiating the practice of “juggling” the vessels of the “shadow fleet”.
The tanker GARNET belongs to the Seychelles company ShantalNavigation Corp, affiliated with the Russian sanctioned PJSC Sovcomflot through a number of related companies that are under international sanctions.
Earlier, USM reported that the Unmanned Systems Forces had transferred the operation against the Russian “shadow fleet” from the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea. During the night of July 15, the UAV Forces Birds hit 20 Russian ships.
