Ukraine Targets Russia’s “Ghost” Fleet

In a significant move on February 13, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy enacted a National Security and Defense Council decision to impose sanctions on 91 vessels linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.” These vessels have been instrumental in transporting oil and petroleum products from Russian ports such as Novorossiysk, Ust-Luga, and Primorsk to various third countries, blatantly circumventing existing sanctions from the European Union, the G7, and other nations.

The sanctioned vessels, which have been monitored operating in the Black Sea, the Red Sea, and the Baltic Sea, are registered under approximately 20 different national flags. Remarkably, only one of these ships flew the Russian flag, with the rest registered under countries including Panama, Liberia, and Hong Kong, among others. This diverse registration highlights the complex nature of the shadow fleet’s operations, designed to obscure their origins and ownership.

Ukraine is taking steps to share this critical information with the countries involved and is seeking to synchronize efforts with international partners to tighten the sanctions further. Already, 27 of the listed vessels are under sanctions by the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and the European Union, with actions against the remaining 64 vessels ongoing. This crackdown is part of Ukraine’s broader strategy to disrupt the financial mechanisms supporting Russia’s military actions against Ukraine. “Identifying and sanctioning these shadow fleet tankers swiftly is crucial as they are a key element in circumventing international oil sanctions and, by extension, financing Russia’s war efforts,” stated Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Advisor-Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for Sanctions Policy.