The UK government is preparing to impose new sanctions on a fleet of Russian oil tankers accused of helping Moscow bypass existing restrictions on oil and gas exports.
According to Downing Street, as many as 100 vessels—responsible for transporting over £18 billion worth of cargo since the start of 2024—will be targeted under the measures.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to unveil the plan during a summit of north European leaders, known as the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), taking place in Oslo, Norway.
Starmer said the UK would take decisive action to dismantle what he called Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “shadow fleet operation,” aimed at sustaining the Kremlin’s war effort in Ukraine through oil revenue. He also stressed the need to protect vital subsea infrastructure.
Following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Western nations introduced a series of energy sanctions, including import bans and oil price caps. In response, Russia deployed a network of tankers with unclear ownership and routing to continue exports—an operation the UK has condemned as dangerous and unlawful.
Under the new measures, these vessels will be banned from entering British ports and could be detained in UK waters.
The crackdown follows recent damage to a key undersea cable in the Baltic Sea, which has raised further concerns over the activities and safety risks posed by the shadow fleet.
The JEF, which includes countries such as Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands, is expected to announce additional support for Ukraine during the summit. The UK previously sanctioned 133 Russian-linked vessels at the last JEF meeting in December 2024.
Nzubechukwu Eze
