The OSCE called the outdated tankers of the Russian fleet “ecological time bombs”
27.06.2025 - 17:00
Experts emphasize that the growth of the so-called “shadow fleet” of Russia is accompanied by numerous negative risks for the region.
This was stated by the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to international organizations in Vienna Yuriy Vitrenko during a meeting of the OSCE Economic and Environmental Committee, writes Ukrinform.
The “shadow fleet” of Russia, which is used to circumvent international sanctions, is the main source of financing for the military budget of this country. This allows the Kremlin to continue the war against Ukraine and undermine the entire rules-based international order. Secondly, the rapid and intensive growth of such a fleet is accompanied by numerous negative risks for the region. These outdated vessels without regulatory oversight are environmental time bombs,” Vitrenko noted.
The expert also pointed out that these vessels do not have proper insurance, in particular against losses such as oil spills. Vitrenko emphasizes that the environmental consequences of any potential accident, similar to the one that occurred with Russian tankers in the Black Sea last December, will have to be eliminated by the affected country itself.
“Violation of shipping rules, sabotage of critical maritime infrastructure, transportation of prohibited and sanctioned goods, together with blatant disregard for international maritime law, pose a universal threat not only to Ukraine and the OSCE region, but also far beyond its borders,” Vitrenko emphasized.
The representative of Ukraine once again called for the introduction of enhanced sanctions against the “shadow fleet.”
Earlier, USM reported that kilograms of fuel oil that washed ashore after the accident of Russian tankers in the Kerch Strait were collected in the Odesa region.
Also, on January 27, the head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, Oleh Kiper, informed that the administration held an extraordinary meeting of the commission on TEB and Emergencies. The main issue is preventing an ecological disaster in the Black Sea.
Later it became known that the port of Odesa will purchase boom barriers to contain accidental pollution in the open sea along the coast.
