Russia’s Shadow Fleet Continues to Evade Sanctions
The fight against Russia‘s oil tanker fleet often resembles a game of whac-a-mole — vessels appear faster than they can be shut down. Why is it so difficult to curb Russian oil sales, and which Western countries are helping Moscow? Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Presidential Commissioner for Sanctions Policy, explained the challenges behind enforcing sanctions on Russia’s shadow fleet in a conversation with RBC-Ukraine.
The Kremlin’s “black cash box” accumulates money earned from oil sales through the shadow fleet in foreign accounts and uses it to finance Russia’s military-industrial complex outside the official Russian state budget. This accumulation of funds allows Moscow to sustain its war effort, despite 20 rounds of European sanctions.
Russian security agencies tightly control oil traders in the interests of a narrow circle close to the Kremlin. Those who attempt to expose these schemes can face direct physical threats. The constant game of hide-and-seek played by Russia, where company names and vessel ownership structures are regularly changed, forces Ukraine and its partners into nonstop tracking of new supply chains.
Ukraine is urging partners to go beyond legal sanctions and physically stop sanction-violating tankers in international waters, drawing on precedents used against Iran’s fleet. This physical enforcement approach aims to prevent ecological disasters in EU territorial waters posed by aging Russian tankers, many over 20 years old.
Russia‘s use of aging tankers is a deliberate tactic to create additional pressure on Europe. Despite the challenges, efforts to counter Russia’s tanker fleet and enforce sanctions are unfolding on several fronts simultaneously — and there have been tangible successes. In the interview with RBC-Ukraine, Vladyslav Vlasiuk discusses how Ukraine is pushing the world away from Russian oil — and how Vladimir Putin has managed to profit even from sanctions.
Sanctions Challenges
The 2Rivers/Coral Energy companies are a prime example of Russia‘s ability to evade sanctions. Initially operating through the UAE as Coral Energy, the company changed its name to 2Rivers after sanctions were imposed in July 2025. The founders are believed to be Azerbaijanis, but the companies have close ties to Russia.
This is a typical story for networks like these, with new schemes emerging faster than old ones can be untangled. Ukraine’s efforts to impose sanctions on these companies have been met with limited success, as Russia continues to exploit loopholes and find ways to sustain its war effort through oil revenues.
International Cooperation
The fight against Russia‘s shadow fleet is a global effort, requiring cooperation from Western countries. Ukraine is urging partners to go beyond legal sanctions and physically stop sanction-violating tankers in international waters. This approach aims to prevent ecological disasters in EU territorial waters posed by aging Russian tankers, many over 20 years old.
As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of enforcing sanctions on Russia‘s shadow fleet, it is clear that a sustained effort will be required to counter Moscow’s schemes and bring an end to its war efforts.
Original Article: ‘Witnesses to Putin’s oil schemes often ‘fall out of windows,’ Ukraine’s sanctions chief Vladyslav Vlasiuk — Rbc