UK slaps new sanctions on Russian shadow fleet
Twenty ships believed to be responsible for transporting Russian oil have been targeted.
LONDON — Britain is sanctioning 20 ships alleged to be involved in the transportation of Russian oil, the U.K. government announced.
The sanctions will target Russian “shadow fleet ships” — in an effort to add to the pressure on Russia’s war economy and target its energy sector.
The ships sanctioned include Andaman Skies, Mianzimu and Ocean Faye, which have each carried more than 4 million barrels of Russian oil this year according to the U.K. government. The measures restrict or prohibit the ships’ movement and access to some British ports.
It comes a day after Britain joined 11 other Western countries in agreeing measures to “disrupt and deter” the so-called shadow fleet of vessels, to prevent sanctions breaches. The U.K. also sanctioned 30 Russian oil tankers last month, and has slapped restrictions on more than 100 ships responsible for transporting Russian energy.
“As Putin’s oil revenues continue to fuel the fires of his illegal war, Ukrainian families are enduring cold, dark nights, often without heating, light or electricity, targeted by Russia’s relentless missile attacks,” U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said. “These sanctions will add further pressure to Putin’s stalling war economy.”
The fresh sanctions come alongside £35 million in new funding for Ukraine from the U.K., to help the war-hit country repair its energy grid and “support the most vulnerable through a third winter of war,” the U.K. government said.
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