EU to sanction 40 more ‘shadow fleet’ vessels, EU top diplomat says

European Union foreign ministers are to impose sanctions on around 40 additional vessels that are used to circumvent the penalties imposed on Russia over its war in Ukraine, EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said.

Sanctioning more ships of the so-called shadow fleet means “depriving Russia of the means to fund this war,” Kallas said on Monday in Brussels.

The newly sanctioned vessels would be barred from entering European ports and from obtaining insurance. Sanctions such as asset freezes are also planned against those who support the operation of the shadow fleet.

In addition, the bloc intends to open talks with states under whose flags the vessels are registered, seeking their agreement to allow EU naval forces to inspect the tankers.

The shadow fleet is Russia’s response to the international oil price cap imposed on Russian fossil fuel exports.

Moscow has been trying to conceal the origin of its oil using various methods like switching off or manipulating satellite transponders or transferring oil between tankers on the high seas.