The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has approved decrees implementing new decisions by the National Security and Defense Council regarding sanctions against Russia and a number of related entities.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Sanctions Against the ‘Shadow Fleet’ and Foreign Captains
One of the signed documents introduces sanctions against 225 individuals, including citizens of Russia, as well as China, India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Pakistan, Panama, and Myanmar. These restrictions primarily target the captains of vessels involved in transporting Russian oil products in violation of international sanctions.
According to the President’s Office, the sanctions pertain to participants in the so-called ‘shadow fleet’—ships that export oil while violating the sanctions regime of the EU, G7, and other countries. Monitoring of the Black, Red, and Baltic Seas has shown that these captains have been operating tankers of the Russian ‘shadow fleet’ and transporting oil while evading sanctions.
“Among them are citizens of 11 countries, including Russia, India, and the Philippines. Monitoring of the situation in the Black, Red, and Baltic Seas has shown that these captains have been operating vessels of the Russian shadow fleet and transporting oil in violation of EU, G7, and other countries’ sanctions.”
It is known that 188 of the mentioned tankers are already under sanctions from the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. According to the President’s Commissioner for Sanctions Policy, Vladislav Vlasyuk, Ukraine continues to seek the expansion of individual sanctions from partners against tanker captains, as working on a sanctioned vessel is a significant basis for corresponding consequences. Vlasyuk emphasizes the need to stop cooperation with the Russian oil industry, which is a source of funding for the war.
Restrictions for Defense Industry Enterprises
The second sanctions package covers 46 Russian citizens, two Iranian citizens, and 44 Russian companies involved in supporting the functioning of the Russian defense industry. The list includes enterprises engaged in the supply, development, production, and repair of equipment, electronic warfare means, and components for the needs of the Russian army. The products of these companies are used in the production of ballistic and cruise missiles, drones, firearms, and ammunition.
Particular attention is given to two Iranian citizens involved in supplying aviation parts and components to Russia in violation of sanctions. These supplies were made in the interests of the Iranian Aviation Industry Corporation, which is a partner of Russia in the production of Shahed drones and has already been included in the sanctions lists of Ukraine, the USA, Switzerland, and New Zealand.
The President’s Office reports that the collected data is planned to be handed over to Ukraine’s international partners to synchronize sanctions approaches.
During a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 22, Volodymyr Zelensky called on European partners to actively engage in the fight against the tankers of the Russian ‘shadow fleet’ and to confiscate their cargo, following the example of the United States.
It is worth noting that the term ‘shadow fleet’ refers to Russia’s use of tankers to transport oil in order to circumvent the sanctions imposed after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.