The European Union has imposed new sanctions on 41 Russian ships, which are part of Russia’s shadow fleet, responsible for the transport of oil and military equipment, as well as the transport of stolen grain and cultural goods from Ukraine. The decision was adopted on December 18 by the Council of the European Union, as part of efforts to limit Russia’s sources of income, in the context of the war of aggression against Ukraine.
This new measure adds the 41 ships to the list of those that no longer have access to European ports and are prohibited from benefiting from a range of services related to maritime transport.
Most of the targeted ships are non-EU oil tankers that circumvent the price ceiling imposed by the EU on Russian oil or directly support Russia’s energy sector.
Also, some of these ships are involved in the transport of military equipment destined for Russian forces or in the illegal transport of grain and cultural goods from the occupied Ukrainian territories.
With this decision, the total number of ships targeted by sanctions within Russia’s shadow fleet reaches almost 600.
The measure is part of a series of actions by the EU aimed at supporting Ukraine and economically isolating Russia, following the military aggression launched in February 2022.
Following the imposed sanctions, the EU reiterates its firm commitment to support Ukraine on all fronts – political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military, and diplomatic.
At the same time, the European Union expresses its intention to continue pressure on Russia, through additional measures, if necessary.