The United States has intercepted a sanctioned oil tanker identified as part of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, US authorities said on Monday, Feb. 9.
According to a statement published on X by the US Department of Defense, US military forces carried out a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding of the tanker Aquila II in the Indo-Pacific region “without incident.” The department said the vessel was operating in defiance of a US-imposed quarantine on sanctioned ships and was tracked by American forces from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean before being intercepted.
Sanctioned Vessel Interception
The US Department of Defense statement highlighted the significance of the interception, emphasizing that the Aquila II was operating in violation of international sanctions imposed on Russia. The department noted that the vessel was part of a larger network of ships used by Russia to circumvent international sanctions and export sanctioned oil and petroleum products.
Russian Oil Exports Linked to Sanctioned Tanker
Ukraine’s military intelligence-linked War&Sanctions portal identifies Aquila II as a tanker involved in exporting sanctioned Russian oil and petroleum products from ports in the Black Sea, Baltic Sea, and the Pacific region. The portal notes that the vessel often uses deceptive shipping practices to evade detection.
US Sanctions on Sunne Co Limited and Aquila II
The US Department of Defense statement also highlighted the connection between Aquila II and Sunne Co Limited, a company sanctioned by the United States on Jan. 10, 2025, for operating in Russia’s energy sector. On the same date, the US also imposed sanctions directly on Aquila II as property in which the company held an interest.
Flag Status and Operations
According to international shipping databases cited by War&Sanctions, the vessel’s flag status is officially listed as unknown, although it has been operating under the Panamanian flag. The US Department of Defense statement did not provide further information on the tanker‘s operations or crew.
Original Article: US Intercepts Sanctioned Tanker Linked to Russia’s Shadow Fleet — Kyivpost