UK cracks down on Russian shadow fleet with fresh sanctions

The UK on Tuesday (20 May) announced a raft of 100 sanctions targeting Russian military, energy, financial sectors and those conducting Putin’s information war against Ukraine.

The latest sanctions target 18 more ships in the ‘shadow fleet’ carrying Russians oil, along with the fleet’s enablers. The Prime Minister announced 110 shadow fleet related sanctions ahead of his visit to Kyiv earlier this month.  

John Michael Ormerod, a British national, also faced sanction for procuring ships for Russia’s shadow fleet. Two Russian captains of shadow fleet tankers were also named in the list of individuals who were sanctioned. 

“This action imposes a personal cost on those who are supporting Russia’s trade in oil and is another step in the Foreign Secretary’s personal mission to constrain the Kremlin and a crucial part of the Plan for Change to ensure a secure Britain,” the government said in a statement. 

The UK is also working with partners to tighten the Oil Price Cap that limits the price that Russia can charge for its oil if transported using G7 services like insurance and shipping. 

“We are reviewing the $60 crude price level, with a view to lowering the cap closer to the cost of production and hitting Putin where it hurts by striking at his oil revenues,” it added.

The following is the list of sanctioned 18 ships:

• TORONTO (IMO 8808525)  
• NEXT (IMO 9286023) 
• SPRING FORTUNE (IMO 9386536)  
• RAGNAR (IMO 9384095)  
• FURIA (IMO 9257802) 
• CORTEX (IMO 9291250)  
• CETUS (IMO 9418482)  
• MISSONI (IMO 9296810) 
• OTLA (IMO 9299719)  
• MAIN (IMO 9387255) 
• NAUTILUS (IMO 9434890) 
• ARABELA (IMO 9253313)  
• RICCA (IMO 9292577)  
• TEAM (IMO 9292589) 
• LEOPARD (IMO 9284594) 
• PIERRE (IMO 9266877) 
• JAMES II (IMO 9253909) 
• LIETO (9389679) 

Photo credit: balesstudio on Unsplash
Published: 21 May, 2025