EU sanctions 41 more ships in Russia's 'shadow fleet' over Ukraine war

The European Union has expanded its campaign to cripple Russia's ability to finance its war in Ukraine, imposing new sanctions on 41 vessels operating within Moscow's so-called "shadow fleet." Announced on Thursday, the measures ban the targeted ships from accessing EU ports and restrict a wide range of maritime services available to them.

Targeting Russia's Sanctions Evasion Network

The latest sanctions specifically aim to disrupt Russia's elaborate network for circumventing international restrictions. The EU Council stated that the designated vessels are involved in activities that undermine the G7 oil price cap, support Russia's energy sector, transport military equipment, or participate in the theft and transport of Ukrainian grain and cultural property. These actions are part of a broader strategy to starve the Kremlin of the financial resources needed to sustain its military campaign.

Ramping Up Pressure on Maritime Enablers

This round of sanctions follows recent EU actions that listed nine entities identified as key "enablers" of the shadow fleet's operations. The bloc has also issued a joint declaration by member states vowing to leverage international maritime law to its fullest extent to counter threats posed by the fleet and to protect critical undersea infrastructure. The EU Council explicitly warned that it "remains ready to step up pressure on Russia and its shadow fleet value chain, including by adopting further sanctions."

Scale and Impact of the Sanctions Regime

With the addition of the 41 new vessels, the total number of ships sanctioned by the EU in connection with Russia's war effort has reached nearly 600. This significant figure reflects the scale of the maritime network Moscow has assembled to bypass Western economic penalties. The sanctions are designed not only to isolate these vessels but also to deter other operators from participating in the illicit trade that sustains Russia's war economy.