Russia builds shadow fleet of more than 1,240 tankers – CCD
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia has built a shadow fleet of more than 1,240 tankers to circumvent Western sanctions and continue selling oil, UATV English reports.
The Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine stated this on its Telegram channel. The statement highlights that these vessels are often old and unsafe, enabling Russia to bypass sanctions and continue exporting oil.
Shadow Fleet Operations
According to the Center, a significant portion of these vessels operate under foreign flags or without any flag at all, often without insurance or technical oversight. These floating hazards have already caused a series of environmental disasters, including oil spills, fires, and marine pollution. The lack of regulation and oversight has raised concerns about the safety and environmental impact of these vessels.
Financial Impact
As reported by the Center, as of September 2025, the Russian Federation was earning approximately $200 million per day from oil exports, with 69 percent of this volume transported by the shadow fleet. This significant revenue stream highlights the importance of the shadow fleet in Russia‘s economy and underscores the need for effective sanctions to disrupt its operations.
Sanctions Efforts
As reported earlier, the European Commission may add several tankers from the shadow fleet to separate sanctions lists if it does not manage to adopt the 20th sanctions package before the New Year. This move would aim to further restrict Russia‘s ability to export oil and undermine its economy.
Original Article: Russia builds shadow fleet of more than 1,240 tankers – CCD — Uatv