Zelenskyy Calls on OSCE Countries to Stop Russian Shadow Fleet Tankers
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appealed to participants of the 33rd session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE PA) to take action against Russia‘s shadow fleet, which is used to circumvent oil sanctions. In his statement on July 4, Zelenskyy emphasized that the efforts of Ukraine’s Armed Forces on the battlefield must be backed by sanctions against Russia.
The Russian shadow fleet operates a network of ships designed to evade international sanctions imposed on Moscow due to its invasion of Ukraine. The fleet is believed to include over 600 vessels, with many more expected to join in the coming months. Zelenskyy believes that stopping these tankers would significantly reduce Russia‘s ability to finance its war efforts and bring peace closer.
EU Countries Step Up Monitoring of Russian Shadow Fleet
In response to Ukraine’s appeal, European Union countries are increasing their monitoring of the Russian shadow fleet. The goal is to make it more difficult for Moscow to export oil and reduce the revenue used to fund its war against Ukraine. The EU has already imposed significant sanctions on Russia, but Zelenskyy believes that additional measures are needed to effectively stop the flow of oil from these tankers.
The president emphasized that Russia‘s oil sector cannot survive without free access to European waters: “This is a critical route. If it is blocked, Russia will lose its ability to finance this war. Therefore, every country that stops tankers from Russia’s shadow fleet is making a real contribution to ending this war.”
Ukraine’s Armed Forces Target Russian Oil Industry
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has reported significant losses for the Russian oil industry as a result of Ukrainian attacks. According to their data, 42.74% of Russia‘s total designed oil refining capacity has been taken out of service. In June alone, the Defense Forces attacked eight oil refineries, resulting in over $13.5 billion in losses since August 2022.
Zelenskyy believes that Europe must have the legal tools to confiscate and sell oil from these “shadow” tankers. He emphasized that Europe’s sanctions pressure could help bring peace closer, so he asked OSCE member states to support such restrictions against Russia at the political level.
The Ukrainian president’s appeal has sparked a renewed focus on the Russian shadow fleet, with many calling for increased international cooperation to stop these vessels and bring an end to the war in Ukraine.
Original Article: Zelenskyy called on OSCE countries to stop tankers belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet — Liga