Law, Power, and Justice

x.com/euromaidanpress/status/1970141793124540636

Russia’s shadow fleet comprises 17% of world’s oil tankers. It allows Moscow to bypass Western sanctions and keep war funding flowing — New York Times.

The 940 aging vessels operate by using fake insurance, flying flags from third countries, and transmitting false location data to hide where they loaded Russian crude oil.

This shadow fleet exploded in size after Europe banned Russian oil imports in 2022 due to the full-scale war in Ukraine, forcing Moscow to find new buyers in India and China and avoid the $60-per-barrel price cap imposed by Western nations.

The poorly maintained tankers are already causing oil spills across the Black Sea and Baltic Sea, with experts warning of potential “environmental catastrophe.”

The EU has blacklisted over 500 shadow fleet ships and plans its 19th sanctions package, but enforcement remains difficult as vessels continue “flag hopping” and transferring cargo