The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has issued an official statement indicating that the Russian Federation is actively attempting to establish a dangerous new shadow fleet. According to London, this initiative aims to circumvent international sanctions imposed by Western nations and maintain unhindered funding for the war against Ukraine through energy export revenues.
Arctic Ambitions and New Tankers
As part of its strategy to bypass the embargo, Russia has built at least two new large-scale vessels, each approximately 300 meters long, designed to transport liquefied natural gas (LNG) through the harsh waters of the Arctic. The British government emphasizes that the Kremlin is requisitioning and deploying additional vessels to strengthen its covert fleet, which increasingly faces NATO interdiction and confiscations.
London's Sanctions Blow
Official statements from British authorities coincided with the announcement of a new sweeping sanctions package. The restrictions target new LNG tankers Aleksey Kosygin and Konstantin Posyet, commissioned earlier this year. These vessels, with a displacement of 127,555 tonnes, are capable of breaking ice up to two meters thick, allowing Moscow to advance into the Arctic and High North. In addition, the sanctions list was expanded to include the Pyotr Stolypin, alongside tankers Portovy, Chayvo, Avacha, Bebek-E, and Galle Energy.
Scale of Global Counteraction
Experts note that Moscow's attempts to build a clandestine logistical infrastructure are meeting a fierce response from the Western coalition. As of October 2026, the European Union has sanctioned approximately 670 vessels, banning them from entering European ports. Meanwhile, the UK has taken measures against nearly 600 tankers used to finance Vladimir Putin's war machine.
