Zelenskyy urges action to stop Putin’s 'shadow fleet', cut Russia's war funding

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to allies on Tuesday to stop Russia’s shadow fleet of vessels, used to evade sanctions, from operating in European waters.

Zelenskyy posted on X that the fleet should be limited ”not just with sanctions, but in other ways too”.

”This fleet is one of the biggest threats. Putin uses these tankers to finance his war, and most of these vessels are old, poorly maintained, and operate without any oversight,” the Ukrainian leader said.

Our sea is facing yet another environmental disaster caused by Russia. But there are even larger and more dangerous Russian tankers operating in your seas. Stopping this fleet is not just about cutting off Russia’s war funding – it’s about protecting nature.

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 17, 2024

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On Monday, the European Union adopted its 15th package of sanctions against Russia over the invasion of Ukraine, targeting Chinese entities and expanding measures against Moscow’s “shadow fleet,” the European Commission announced Monday.

The latest sanctions include 52 additional vessels linked to Russia’s shadow fleet, which are used to bypass Western restrictions to transport oil, arms, and grains. This brings the total number of listed vessels to 79.

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Britain on Tuesday also sanctioned 20 ships that it said were using illicit practices to avoid sanctions on Russian oil.

Zelenskiy called Sunday’s oil spillage caused by a sinking Russian tanker in the Kerch Straight near the Crimean Peninsula, an ”environmental disaster”.

One tanker split apart during a storm, while another ended up in distress. Together they had 9,200 metric tons of oil products aboard, Russian state news agency TASS said.

Ukraine’s navy spokesperson said Russia violated navigation safety by using old tankers and keeping two vessels at sea during a heavy storm.

”There are much larger and more dangerous Russian tankers operating in your seas. This fleet must be stopped. Doing so will not only cut off Russia’s war funding but will also protect nature,” Zelenskiy added.

With inputs from agencies.