Ukraine called on the UN Security Council to strengthen sanctions against the “shadow fleet”
30.10.2026 - 10:22
The call came amid reports of US plans to ease sanctions against tankers.
State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleksandr Karasevich called for strengthening sanctions against the Russian “shadow fleet” that transports oil and stolen Ukrainian grain. He stated this at a high-level open debate in the UN Security Council on new technologies and maritime security, Ukrinform writes.
According to him, the restrictions should apply to individuals, companies and vessels involved in circumventing sanctions on Russian oil and oil products and in the illegal export of grain from the temporarily occupied territories.
“We call for the introduction, maintenance and strengthening of targeted sanctions,” Karasevich noted.
He also stressed the need to strengthen international monitoring, information exchange and coordination to protect freedom of navigation.
The statistics of attacks cited by the diplomat show a sharp escalation. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, more than 1,600 Ukrainian port infrastructure facilities and more than 260 civilian vessels have been damaged, and more than 330 civilians have been injured. While 25 attacks on ships were recorded in 2025, more than 95 occurred from June to September 2026 alone.
The consequences go far beyond the region. Disruption of Ukrainian maritime exports threatens the food supply for 400 million people in the world and could lead to price increases, which are especially painful for the most vulnerable.
Separately, Karasevich focused on methods of concealing shipments. The vessels of the “shadow fleet” manipulate automatic identification systems: they turn them off or transmit false location data. This allows them to hide the movement of tankers with Russian oil and ships with stolen grain.
Technology, he said, can also work for protection: artificial intelligence, satellite imagery and modern surveillance systems can provide early detection of threats.
“Technological progress does not exempt states from responsibility for their actions,” Karasevich concluded.
The call came against the backdrop of an opposing trend in Washington. Reuters previously reported that the Trump administration was considering easing sanctions against “shadow fleet” tankers — allowing them to transport cargo that is not subject to restrictions. The EU has currently imposed sanctions on about 670 such vessels, and Ukraine has separately imposed restrictions on 255 captains.
