Ukraine imposes sanctions against over 600 vessels of the Russian “shadow fleet”
15.12.2025 - 10:42
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on the implementation of the NSDC decision to impose sanctions on 656 vessels of the “shadow fleet”.
This was reported on the website of the President of Ukraine.
The latest package of sanctions against 656 vessels is the largest ever applied to the “shadow fleet” of Russia.
During the monitoring of the Black, Red and Baltic Seas, it was established that Russia used these vessels to circumvent the sanctions of the European Union, the G7 and other states and thus exported oil, oil products and liquefied natural gas (LNG). The owners and crews of the vessels turned off the automatic identification system (AIS) and used schemes that allowed them to hide the ownership and origin of the cargo.
The sanctioned vessels sailed under the flags of more than 50 countries, most often Gambia, Sierra Leone, Panama and Cameroon. Ukraine will transfer all relevant information to these states and work with them to stop issuing licenses.
Ukraine will also work with partners to synchronize these sanctions in their jurisdictions. At the same time, a significant part of the vessels are already under sanctions by the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Ukraine will also continue to coordinate its efforts with partners to implement a complete ban on the provision of maritime services to vessels involved in the export of Russian energy resources.
USM previously reported that the EU plans to revise maritime law to counter the Russian “shadow fleet”.
