Russia's Oil Smuggling Fleet Faces New Hurdles

The European Union and the United Kingdom have joined forces to tackle Russia's shadow fleet. This fleet is a group of around 500 old ships. They are used to secretly move oil, gas, and even stolen Ukrainian grain. This move is part of a bigger plan to punish Russia for its actions in Ukraine. The EU has put sanctions on 189 ships from this shadow fleet. This means these ships and their owners can't use EU resources or travel freely. The EU has also targeted people and companies that help this fleet operate. This includes an insurer and interests in the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Hong Kong. The UK has also imposed 100 new sanctions. These target entities supporting Russia's military, energy exports, and information war. These new measures are not a direct response to Russia's delay in agreeing to a ceasefire. The EU started working on these sanctions three months ago. The goal is to make it harder for Russia to keep making money from oil. This is important because oil revenue helps fund Russia's war efforts. The shadow fleet is a big problem. These ships are old and often have unclear ownership. They dodge sanctions and keep the oil money flowing. But they also cause other issues. For example, a ship from this fleet damaged an undersea power cable in the Baltic Sea. This shows how dangerous these ships can be. The EU and UK are sending a clear message. They want to stop Russia's shadow fleet and the people who support it. This is a big step, but it's not the only one. More sanctions are in the works. The hope is that these actions will make a difference and help bring an end to the conflict. The UK has also targeted the supply chains of Russian weapons. This includes Iskander missiles, which have been used against civilians in Ukraine. The UK is also sanctioning 18 more ships from the shadow fleet. This shows that the UK is serious about ramping up the pressure on Russia.