ALBAWABA - In its most extensive sanctions package against Russia's shadow fleet, the UK has targeted 30 more ships that transport oil and various other goods, increasing the total number of vessels subject to UK restrictions to 73.
At a G7 foreign ministers' conference in Italy, Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced the measures, underscoring the UK's stance in combating Russia's alleged circumvention of international sanctions.
“Russia’s oil revenues are fuelling the fires of war and destruction in Ukraine,” stated the minister, adding “We are determined to disrupt these flows, degrade Russia’s war machine, and curtail its global activities.”
The UK published details on the sanctions saying over the course of the last year, the sanctioned vessels have moved billions of dollars in oil and oil products, with only half of them moving more than $4.3 billion worth.
The vessels have allegedly been helping Russia through western sanctions by operating under other countries’ flags and using “dubious insurance” to pass through UK and international waters.
Additionally, two Russian insurance companies, AlfaStrakhovanie and VSK, were sanctioned and accused of providing assistance to the shadow fleet. The UK government plans to question the insurance credentials of ships that move through its ports in an effort to further impede the operations of the fleet in international and UK waters.
With 46 nations and the European Union supporting a call to move against Russia's shadow fleet, the latest round of sanctions adds to the continuing international measures against Moscow.
