---
title: "Shadow Fleet Under Fire: Ukraine Responds to Russia's IMO Complaint and Reveals Interception Plans"
description: "Ukraine responded to Russia's complaint to the IMO, stating that the \"shadow fleet\" finances the war and is not ordinary commerce. Kyiv revealed plans to detain vessels using drones and boats, while the West has already begun seizing tankers in the English Channel and the Mediterranean. 🚢🚫🇷🇺"
date: 2026-06-30T17:52:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/shadow-fleet-under-fire-ukraine-responds-to-russias-imo-complaint-and-reveals-interception-plans
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Shadow Fleet Under Fire: Ukraine Responds to Russia's IMO Complaint and Reveals Interception Plans

![Gas carrier symbolizing the shadow fleet at the dock: Ukraine responds to Russia in IMO](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/30/ukraina-otvetila-na-zhalobu-rossii-v-imo-i-raskryla-plany-po-perehvatyu-tenevogo-flota/ukraina-otvetila-na-zhalobu-rossii-v-imo-i-raskryla-plany-po-perehvatyu-tenevogo-flota-1.webp)

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has become the arena for a new diplomatic duel between Moscow and Kyiv. At the center of the conflict is Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" and the legality of Ukrainian military actions against it. If in early June Russia accused Ukraine of "terrorism" for attacking an LNG tanker, Kyiv responded with an argumentation that questions the very status of commercial vessels financing the Russian war machine.

### Diplomatic Crossfire: Terrorism or Military Necessity?

In early June, Moscow sent a letter to the IMO accusing Kyiv of terrorist acts. The pretext was the March attack on the Russian liquefied natural gas tanker *Arctic Metagaz* in the Mediterranean Sea. The Russian side insisted on the protection of commercial interests and shipping safety.

However, on June 26, Ukraine presented its counter-document. Vice Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba, in a letter to the organization, raised a fundamental question: can the activities of "shadow fleet" vessels be considered exclusively ordinary commercial operations?

According to Kyiv, these vessels play a critical role in forming Russia's budget revenues, which directly finance the country's military efforts. Kuleba emphasized that in 2025, Ukraine has already attacked about ten "shadow fleet" ships that are under sanctions and transporting Russian cargo.

### Counter-Attack with Arguments: Statistics and Facts

In its response, Ukraine did not limit itself to defending its own actions but also accused Russia of violating international humanitarian law. Kuleba cited data showing that since February 2022, Russia has struck more than 200 commercial vessels in the Black Sea.

Among the victims are civilian vessels from various countries. In particular, attacks on 59 merchant ships are mentioned, including the Turkish cargo ship *MV Victress* and the German vessel *Helga*. "These attacks are further evidence of Russia's blatant disregard for international humanitarian law, laws governing naval warfare, and the safety of commercial shipping," stated the Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister.

### Effectiveness of Attacks: How Russia's Logistics is Changing

Attacks by the Ukrainian side are already yielding tangible results in Russian carriers' logistics. Following the March incident, no Russian LNG tanker has entered the Mediterranean Sea. According to data from maritime intelligence company Windward, the "shadow fleet" is forced to go around the Cape of Good Hope, which significantly increases the time and cost of voyages.

The global "shadow fleet" serving the interests of Russia, Iran, and Venezuela numbers more than 1,500 tankers. However, pressure on it is growing not only from Ukraine but also from Western partners.

### Western Pressure and New Methods of Struggle

European allies of Ukraine have intensified activities to neutralize the "shadow fleet." On June 14, the UK seized a tanker carrying Russian cargo in the English Channel, while France detained a similar vessel in the Mediterranean Sea. Specifically, the French Navy stopped the tanker *Deliver* near Sicily; the vessel is currently anchored under guard.

European partners are exerting pressure on offshore registries in Barbados, Panama, and Cameroon. The goal is to remove vessels from registration under the flags of these countries, which will provide legal grounds for their detention and inspection.

### New Weapons: Drones and Boats

The fight against the "shadow fleet" is moving into a technological dimension. Britain plans to allocate 500 million pounds to purchase high-speed boats and strike drones for commandos, which can be deployed in the Arctic Circle. This equipment is intended to intercept vessels violating sanctions.

Ukraine is also preparing its forces. The commander of one of the GUR MO units with the callsign "Ninth" reported that Ukrainian unmanned boats *Katran* are preparing for operations to detain "shadow fleet" vessels directly in the Black Sea.