Russian Shadow Fleet Probed by French Authorities
French authorities Wednesday probed a vessel off western France alleged to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” of oil tankers used to evade oil sanctions since its invasion of Ukraine. The European Union has identified and blacklisted 444 vessels it says are part of the vast so-called Russian shadow or “ghost fleet,” following an 18th tranche of sanctions announced in July.
The UK has sanctioned around 500 of these ships since February 2022, with the vessels flying flags of convenience and having opaque ownership. These ships enable Moscow to keep exporting its crude oil for much-needed revenue despite curbs on exports. According to the UK government, such ships engage in illegal operations with the aim of circumventing sanctions, often evading safety and environmental regulations as well as insurance costs.
Global Shadow Fleet Expands in Size
The global shadow fleet “which previously mostly transported goods to and from Iran and Venezuela — has exploded in size,” according to the US think tank Atlantic Council. It estimates that around 17% of all oil tankers belong to the global shadow fleet, which also comprises other merchant vessels. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the global shadow fleet has grown significantly.
Russian Dependence on Western Maritime Services Reduced
To circumvent the sanctions, Russia has had to reduce its dependence on Western maritime services and build up its own fleet by indirectly buying tankers, to which it offers its own insurance services. In August 2025, 125 out of 400 vessels exporting Russian oil and oil products were shadow tankers, according to the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), a Helsinki-based think tank.
Ageing Ships Pose Huge Environmental Risks
The Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) has warned of the “huge environmental risks for the EU” posed by the ageing ships. The Atlantic Council estimated in early 2024 that ships over 20 years old would account for 11% of the global tanker fleet in 2025, compared to only 3% before the war in Ukraine.
Ships Lack Adequate Protection and Indemnity Insurance
The ships in the Russian ghost fleet do not have adequate protection and indemnity (P&I) insurance — a must for commercial vessels to cover risks from war, collisions or environmental damage such as oil spills. Up to 95% of the P&I insurance market is made up of insurers from the European Union and the UK, both of which have slapped several rounds of sanctions on Russia.
Original Article: Ghost fleet: How Russia cheats Western oil sanctions — Dhakatribune