Albanian Port Blocks Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker
On August 29, Albania refused to allow the Russian shadow fleet tanker Hanuman into its port in Durres, according to the press service of the Ministry of Defense.
The Hanuman is one vessel among a larger network of ships used by Russia to circumvent international sanctions. In January of this year, GUR MOU added this tanker to the War&Sanctions portal database as belonging to the Russian shadow fleet. Since the beginning of 2025 alone, the tanker has exported at least 452,000 tons of Russian fuel from the port in Novorossiysk to Turkey, Senegal, the UAE, and the port near Augusta, Italy.
The logistics of these flights are handled by the company OOO “Altoprae Marine”, which belongs to Putin’s close associate and sanctioned Gennady Timchenko. This move is seen as a significant blow to Russia’s efforts to evade sanctions and highlights Albania’s commitment to upholding international law.
Russian Shadow Fleet: A Growing Concern
The Russian shadow fleet, a collection of old tankers that turn off their beacons to avoid detection by surveillance systems, has grown significantly since the beginning of 2025. According to estimates from The Guardian in September 2023, Russia’s shadow fleet consists of approximately 600 vessels, which provide 70% of Russia’s oil exports and around 10% of the world’s “wet cargo” fleet.
These tankers are mostly operated by the Russian state-owned company Suchkomflot. With its help, the Russian Federation transports almost 1.7 million barrels of oil per day, bringing large profits to the Kremlin. The growth of this shadow fleet has raised concerns about Russia’s ability to evade sanctions and undermine global energy markets.
International Response to Price Caps
In early December 2022, the G7 members, as well as Australia and the EU, imposed price caps on Russian oil, setting a maximum price of $60 per barrel. From February 5, 2023, these countries imposed price caps on Russian petroleum products: $100 for diesel and $45 for various lubricants.
These measures were designed to reduce Russia’s revenue from oil exports and limit its ability to fund its military activities in Ukraine. However, the growth of the shadow fleet has shown that these efforts may not be enough to effectively curb Russia’s ability to evade sanctions.
In May of this year, four more LNG tankers joined the Russian shadow fleet. In June, another tanker joined the LNG fleet, bringing the total to at least 21 vessels. As the situation continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how effective these measures will be in limiting Russia’s ability to circumvent sanctions and what further steps may need to be taken to address this growing concern.
Original Article: Albania did not allow a tanker from the Russian shadow fleet into its port — Babel