UK imposes sanctions on 30 ships of Russia's shadow fleet

The UK government has announced the introduction of what it described as the largest sanctions package, targeting 30 ships from Russia's shadow fleet.

On Monday, the UK imposed sanctions on 30 ships from Russia’s shadow fleet, which are responsible for transporting oil and oil products worth billions of pounds over the past year.

"With half of the ships targeted today transporting more than $4.3bn worth of oil and oil products like gasoline in the last year alone, today is the largest UK package of its kind," the British government explained.

This move, they added, will further limit the Kremlin's ability to fund its illegal war in Ukraine and its global malicious activities. It will also increase the total number of oil tankers sanctioned by the UK to 73, more than any other country.

The announcement came as UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy used a G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Italy to urge other nations to continue exerting pressure on Russia's military apparatus, alongside efforts to strengthen military and financial support for Ukraine.

Oil revenues are a key source of funding for Russia's illegal war in Ukraine.

"Russia’s oil revenues are fuelling the fires of war and destruction in Ukraine.  I will work with our G7 partners and beyond to exert relentless pressure on the Kremlin, disrupt the flow of money into its war chest, erode its military machine, and constrain its malign behaviour worldwide," Lammy said.

The official added that UK sanctions are working, with Russia becoming increasingly reliant on countries like North Korea and Iran for military supplies, and even resorting to sending North Korean troops to support its illegal invasion.

Media reports indicate that the next European Union sanctions package against Russia will target the shadow fleet used to circumvent Western oil sanctions. 

The European Parliament recently called for tougher sanctions against Russia's shadow fleet.