The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine released data on 12 tankers, as well as more than 200 captains of the shadow fleet who transported cargo in Russia’s interests.
The “Aircraft and Marine Vessels” section of the War & Sanctions portal has published information on 12 tankers involved in Russia’s maritime exports of oil and petroleum products, along with more than 200 captains of such tankers and vessels that transported military cargo and products stolen from the occupied territories of Ukraine in the interests of the Russian Federation.
The update includes ten tankers belonging to the so-called shadow fleet operating under flags of convenience and false flags, with opaque ownership structures, as well as two tankers owned by Greek shipping companies.
“All of them are united by the transportation of oil and petroleum products in the interests of major Russian oil and gas companies such as Surgutneftegas, Rosneft, Novatek, Lukoil, and others. Such exports are the main source of funding for the Russian military budget used to wage war against Ukraine,” the Defence Intelligence emphasized.
According to the statement, all of the published tankers and nearly all of the disclosed captains have already been sanctioned by Ukraine for unlawful activities and cooperation with the Russian forces. To strengthen countermeasures, the synchronization of such sanctions by partner countries is needed, including bans on these vessels entering ports, receiving servicing, and bans on these captains entering civilized countries.
Ukraine’s military intelligence stressed that captains, as the highest-ranking individuals aboard ships, know not only the owners of shadow tankers but also possess information about the cargoes and their value, the technical condition of the vessels, and any existing problems, thereby assessing the risks these ships pose to the environment.
In particular, it is the captains who, “in violation of international rules, industry standards, best practices, and sanctions restrictions, resort to deceptive and high-risk tactics involving the disabling and manipulation of AIS systems, entering false information into route and anchorage logs, and conducting STS transfers involving dangerous cargoes and sanctioned vessels.”
The Defence Intelligence addressed the crews of shadow fleet vessels directly:
“You still have the opportunity to refuse to participate in illegal activities and cooperate. Shadow companies operating behind the dark fleet usually disappear as soon as a vessel faces law enforcement action, leaving captains and sailors to bear the legal and humanitarian consequences on their own,” Ukraine’s military intelligence stressed.
