The European Council imposed restrictive measures on an additional 41 vessels, that are part of russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ of oil tankers and contribute to russia’s energy revenues.
The vessels are added to the list of those subject to a port access ban and ban on provision of a broad range of services related to maritime transport. This measure is intended to target non-EU tankers that are part of putin’s shadow fleet circumventing the oil price cap mechanism or support the energy sector of russia, or vessels that are responsible for transporting military equipment for russia or involved in the transport of stolen Ukrainian grain and cultural goods from Ukraine.
Today’s decision, which brings the total of designated vessels to almost 600, is closely linked to recent Council decisions to list nine shadow fleet enablers and adopt a declaration by the EU and its member states on making full use of the international law of the sea framework relating to threats from the ‘shadow fleet’ and to the protection of critical undersea infrastructure.
The EU remains ready to step up pressure on russia and its shadow fleet value chain, including by adopting further sanctions.
