Britain expands sanctions on Russian shadow fleet and financial sector

The latest measures encompass over 20 oil tankers and several liquefied natural gas carriers, marking a tactical escalation in the ongoing campaign to dismantle the so-called shadow fleet. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, speaking from the G7 summit in France, characterized these designations as a direct strike against the actors and financial conduits sustaining Russia’s military operations. Alongside the shipping restrictions, the UK government targeted major financial entities, including Rosgosstrakh, Evofinance Mosnarbank, and Wildberries Bank.

Beyond shipping and banking, the sanctions net includes Neptune Co Ltd, an entity accused of orchestrating a procurement network to covertly acquire Western technology for the Russian defense sector. This regulatory tightening follows a recent maritime operation in the English Channel, where British commandos intercepted a sanctioned oil tanker. With these latest additions, the UK has now sanctioned nearly 600 vessels suspected of circumventing international energy restrictions.