Against the backdrop of successful strikes by Ukraine’s Defense Forces on the aggressor state’s oil-refining infrastructure and the fuel shortages caused by them, the kremlin has stepped up “gray” schemes for processing petroleum products.
Ukrainian military intelligence has documented the implementation of one such scheme through the Indian oil-refining company Nayara Energy, 49.13% of whose shares are owned by the russian state company Rosneft. Processing is carried out at this enterprise, with subsequent export via the “shadow fleet” network.
Thus, on June 20, 2026, the russian “shadow fleet” tanker AGNI (IMO 9314167) left the Nayara Energy oil depot carrying nearly 67.5 thousand tons of petroleum products. The vessel’s declared destination was the sector west of the Suez Canal, in the area of the Egyptian port of Port Said.There, another “shadow fleet” tanker, GARNET (IMO 9577094), was waiting to conduct an STS [Ship-to-Ship transfer – UT] transfer of the petroleum products.
The transfer of petroleum products from AGNI to GARNET was carried out with the AIS [Automatic Identification System – UT] turned off , which, in the event of an abnormal situation, could have led to an environmental catastrophe and emergency incidents.
After the operation was completed, GARNET provided inaccurate cargo data. In particular, AIS indicated that the vessel was proceeding empty. As of now, the tanker has passed through the Strait of Gibraltar. Likely destinations include the “Vitino” port in the White Sea or one of the ports in the Baltic.
Recall that earlier, the War&Sanctions project of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense’s Main Directorate of Intelligence identified AGNI and GARNET as “shadow fleet” tankers of russia.
The AGNI tanker is affiliated with the Indian company GatikShip Management. In 2022–2023, this company was among the largest operators of the “shadow fleet” that enabled the export of russian oil and petroleum products bypassing Western sanctions. The company was the biggest carrier of fossil fuels in the interests of Rosneft.
Due to increased attention from the international community, Gatik promptly reflagged its fleet to related companies – particularly newly created in India and the UAE – effectively starting the practice of “juggling” “shadow fleet” vessels.
The GARNET tanker belongs to the Seychelles company ShantalNavigation Corp and is affiliated with russia’s sanctioned Sovcomflot through a number of related companies that are subject to international sanctions.
Sovcomflot is russia’s largest state-owned shipping company, providing maritime hydrocarbon extraction and transporting russian oil, petroleum products, and liquefied natural gas.
