Asger Risom
A Russian tanker has been conducting unauthorized oil transfers in the Mediterranean to circumvent Western sanctions, Ukrainian intelligence reports.
Despite nearly two years of coordinated sanctions by the EU and G7, Russia continues to exploit maritime loopholes to maintain its oil revenues, a key financial lifeline for its war in Ukraine.
According to Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR), Moscow is operating an uninsured Aframax-class tanker in international waters near Greece and Cyprus to covertly transfer oil to third parties.
Sanctions Evasion on the High Seas
In a report published on June 16, HUR identified the vessel as IMO 9247443, which has been conducting ship-to-ship transfers without Western insurance coverage since July 2024.
These operations, conducted in the Mediterranean, allow Russia to obscure the origin of its oil and sidestep international oversight.
The ship is part of what’s known as Russia’s “shadow fleet”, a growing network of tankers used to dodge sanctions.
HUR listed the vessel on the War&Sanctions tracking platform, which now includes 160 Russian-linked tankers and 55 captains suspected of aiding these illicit operations as reported by the Kyiv Independent.
A Profitable Workaround
Even under sanctions, oil and gas continue to generate significant income for the Kremlin.
HUR estimates that around one-third of these earnings will be allocated to military spending in 2025.
Western authorities have stepped up enforcement. The EU’s latest sanctions package, passed in May, targets nearly 200 vessels.
The U.S. Treasury previously sanctioned over 180 tankers, covering roughly half of Russia’s seaborne oil exports.
However, political momentum appears to be shifting. While the Biden administration expanded pressure earlier this year, President Donald Trump has since held off on new sanctions — even as Moscow refuses to negotiate a ceasefire.
Environmental and Security Risks
Beyond violating sanctions, Ukraine’s intelligence warns that such transfers pose ecological dangers and erode global energy security.
The use of unregulated tankers increases the risk of spills and undermines efforts to hold Russia accountable for fueling its war machine through international markets.