UK slaps sanctions on bunker company and Russian shadow fleet of oil tankers

The UK government on Tuesday (17 June) has imposed sanctions on 20 oil tankers and Rosneft’s bunker fuel trading subsidiary Rosneft Marine (UK) Limited, in its latest action targeting Russia’s financial, military and energy sectors.

The new sanctions crack down further on Russia’s shadow fleet, targeting 20 of oil tankers. The UK is also tightening the net around those who enable Putin’s illicit oil trade, sanctioning Orion Star Group LLC and Valegro LLC-FZ, for their role in crewing and managing shadow fleet vessels. 
The action also targets Russia’s military capabilities, hitting the military agency leading the development of Russia’s underwater intelligence gathering operations (GUGI), protecting the UK from attacks on subsea infrastructure, restricting Putin’s war machine and increasing our security at home. 

“These sanctions strike right at the heart of Putin’s war machine, choking off his ability to continue his barbaric war in Ukraine,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.

“We know that our sanctions are hitting hard, so while Putin shows total disregard for peace, we will not hesitate to keep tightening the screws.

“The threat posed by Russia cannot be underestimated, so I’m determined to take every step necessary to protect our national security and keep our country safe and secure.”

According to Rosneft’s website, Rosneft Marine UK, a Rosneft trading division, was established in 2010 to carry out bunker fuel trading for international cargo shipping.

In 2010, an office was opened in London, then in Beijing in 2012.

Photo credit: balesstudio on Unsplash
Published: 19 June, 2025