B4Ukraine, a global coalition of 90 civil society groups trying to defund the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine, has called on the UK Government to intensify its measures against Russia’s so-called 'shadow fleet'.
Writing to UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, B4Ukraine applauded the UK’s recent sanctions against Russia’s shadow fleet vessels, which represent approximately 10% of the global ‘wet cargo’ fleet that transports non-edible products and liquids.
A shadow fleet engages in illegal operations to get around sanctions, as well as evading safety or environmental regulations, and avoiding insurance costs.
The coalition recommends that the UK’s current sanctions against 17 vessels be extended to align with the US, which has now sanctioned 40 vessels. Denmark has also recently announced plans to challenge the shadow fleet as EU member states ramp up measures to indirectly fight Russia.
Additional recommendations include sanctioning entities and individuals that are linked to the vessels, with an emphasis on multilateral cooperation and comprehensive policies.
The UK’s sanctions against Russia prohibit the maritime transportation of Russian oil, effective from 5 December 2022, and refined oil products, which came into force on 5 February 2023.
B4Ukraine said that to ensure compliance with this regime, the UK should require proof of price-cap-compliant sale contracts for insurance and other maritime services.
According to the coalition, since the ban on Russian oil products came into effect, oil products refined from Russian-origin crude oil worth more than £600m ($726.23m) have been imported into the UK, as the sanctions exclude imports from third-country refineries processing Russian crude oil.
Closing this loophole is essential to defunding the Russian war economy, argues B4Ukraine.
B4Ukraine’s letter also addresses potential environmental risks in the English Channel posed by the shadow fleet vessels, which it said are “poorly maintained and uninsured”.
The coalition calls for stricter enforcement of environmental laws in UK waters for oil tankers, covering proof of adequate insurance and compliance with heavy fuel standards.
Svitlana Romanko, founder and executive director of Ukrainian organisation Razom We Stand, which calls for a total and permanent embargo on Russian fossil fuels, commented: “The new UK Labour Government has a critical role in severing these financial lifelines to ensure Russia no longer has the financial power to fund its war in Ukraine.”
On 19 July, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelensky met with the UK Cabinet to discuss the ongoing suppression of Russia’s shadow fleet.
Increases in Russia’s yearly oil revenue, announced in May, suggest that Russia is acclimatising to international sanctions, requiring countries such as the UK to reassess their stringency and scope.
