The activity of the Russian tanker fleet, which transports oil in circumvention of international restrictions, has decreased by almost half. This was reported by Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, noting that this trend has been observed in June 2025.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Impact of Western Sanctions on the Russian Fleet
Western sanctions imposed by the European Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom have significantly affected the operations of 343 vessels engaged in the transportation of Russian oil. A significant portion of these vessels is already under sanctions, which has noticeably limited Russia’s ability to finance the war through energy resource exports.
“In June, the activity of 343 vessels transporting Russian oil in circumvention of restrictions plummeted by almost half. This is the result of coordinated sanctions from the EU, the US, and the UK. Most of these vessels are already under sanctions. The ability to finance the war is decreasing, as Russia is highly dependent on this fleet for the sale of energy resources,” wrote the Ukrainian official, adding that “pressure must be maintained.”
Risks from the Activities of the ‘Shadow Fleet’
Following the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia intensified the use of vessels with opaque ownership structures and dubious insurance. European countries have repeatedly accused such vessels of creating environmental threats and damaging underwater infrastructure, including energy and telecommunications networks.
In June, the European Union approved the 17th sanctions package, which covers nearly 200 vessels belonging to the so-called ‘shadow fleet’ of the Russian Federation. These measures aim to further restrict the aggressor country’s ability to circumvent sanctions and increase pressure on its economy.