Up to 100 oil tankers that have transported cargo worth more than 24 billion US dollars since the beginning of 2024 are subject to penalties.
The vessels are used by Russia's President Vladimir Putin to circumvent Western sanctions on Russian gas and oil, but are also known for damaging critical infrastructure through "reckless maritime activities in Europe", states the British government.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer describes in a press release "the threat from Russia to our national security" as very large. "Therefore, we will do everything in our power to destroy his shadow fleet operation, starve his war machine of oil revenues and protect the underwater infrastructure that we are dependent on in our daily lives".
The sanctions are referred to as the toughest so far against the Russian shadow fleet. The package will be presented in more detail by Starmer during the day at a top meeting in Oslo within the British-led defense cooperation JEF (Joint Expeditionary Force), where Sweden and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will also participate.
