Analysts have exposed the routes of a shadow Russian tanker – Sable was exporting oil to China, spying in the Baltics
16.07.2025 - 14:37
Archival data of the captain of the tanker Sable indicate systematic evasion of sanctions and involvement in reconnaissance and sabotage activities.
The analytical company Dallas has published internal documents related to the activities of one of the tankers of the Russian “shadow fleet” – Sable (former Saint Vasilius, now Sabina).
The vessel, which formally sailed under the flag of Panama (and since May 2025 – the Comoros Islands), was repeatedly involved in the transportation of Arctic oil from Russia to China, and also appears in reconnaissance operations in the Baltic Sea.
The captain of the vessel is 47-year-old Russian Mikhail Gushchin, who signed a contract with Prominent Shipmanagement Limited in Primorsk, Russia back in 2023. According to analysts, in the second half of 2023, the Sable made at least two voyages from Murmansk to Myanmar, and in December arrived at the port of Zhoushan in China.
Passport data of Captain Mikhail Gushchin
In February 2024, the vessel set off for the Suez Canal according to new instructions received from Gazpromneft, and later returned to Murmansk to load Arctic oil of the Novy Port grade.
Analysts have recorded cases of navigation spoofing – the Sable “moved” on maps without changing its actual location, in particular, it simulated being off the coast of Norway.
The route of the Sable vessel
In addition to oil exports, the Sable performed surveillance functions for underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. According to Ukrainian intelligence, the ships of the Russian shadow fleet are actively involved in spying on cable networks, naval bases and terminals of EU countries.
In January 2025, the US added the tanker to the sanctions list, along with the management company. After that, the ship changed its name to Sabina and flew under the flag of the Comoros. In June 2025, it again set sail for China with Russian oil. Sabina is currently under US sanctions, but is still not on the EU and UK blacklists.
Ship-to-ship oil transfer near Murmansk
Recently, USM reported that the US is preparing for tough sanctions against Russia and its oil buyers.
