Twelve Countries To Join Forces In Fighting Russia’s Shadow Fleet

Among them are the three Baltic states.

Twelve European countries — Germany, Great Britain, Poland, the Netherlands, five Nordic countries and three Baltic states — have agreed to work together to combat the shadow fleet that Russia uses to export oil in defiance of the G7 price ceiling, according to a joint statement published on the Estonian government's website on Monday, December 16.

According to the Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal, Russia's shadow fleet poses a threat to European security, economies, and the environment. “Those who choose to operate in the shadows need to face the consequences.”

“We are taking coordinated steps to deter Russia’s shadow fleet and their attempts to evade sanctions,” added Michal.

The statement, which was adopted at the meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force heads of states in Tallinn, says that the United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Finland and Estonia are tasking their maritime authorities to request relevant proof of insurance from suspected shadow vessels as they pass through the English Channel, the Danish Straits of the Great Belt, the Sound between Denmark and Sweden, and the Gulf of Finland. Information collected by the participating states, including relating to those vessels that choose not to respond to requests, will be assessed and acted upon together.

With these measures, the twelve countries expect not only to limit Russia's income from energy exports, which allows it to wage war in Ukraine, but also to improve the environmental safety of the region. Environmentalists have found that almost 200 tankers of the “oil fleet” are outdated and should be decommissioned. In recent years, they have caused several oil spills.

Sanctions against Russia's shadow fleet included in the 15th EU package

On December 16, the foreign ministers of the EU countries approved the 15th package of sanctions against Russia for its aggressive war against Ukraine. In particular, restrictions were imposed on 52 vessels from third countries that are part of Russia's shadow fleet. Thus, the total number of vessels under EU sanctions reached 79. They are prohibited from entering EU ports and receiving services from European companies. The EU also imposed sanctions on Russian defense and shipping companies responsible for transporting crude oil and oil products by sea.

In addition, in November, the UK government added another 30 vessels to the sanctions list that are part of Russia's shadow fleet, bringing the number to 73.

The price cap was introduced by the G7 countries at the same time as the EU oil embargo in December 2022 to prevent Russian oil from being sold at prices above $60 a barrel on other markets. Western insurers are prohibited from insuring tankers if they are transporting oil for sale at a price above the cap. To circumvent these restrictions, Russia created a shadow fleet.

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