As of next week, about 200 more ships from the alleged Russian shadow fleet are expected to be banned from entering EU ports. The ban is part of the latest package of sanctions that the EU intends to impose on Russia in connection with ongoing attacks on Ukraine.
Ships are suspected Shadow fleets are part of a strategy by which Russia, according to EU countries, circumvents existing export restrictions on oil products. According to experts, these outdated tankers frequently pose a serious threat to shipping and the environment. Ships operate despite major method failures and the deficiency of automatic recognition systems on any of them. For example, in January, 1 of these ships drifted inactive across the Baltic Sea off the coast of Rügen, causing concerns about the oil disaster. Authorities have repeatedly detained Shadow Fleet ships.
This means that about 345 vessels are presently on the EU sanction list. The fresh sanction package besides includes further export restrictions likely to affect around 30 companies and another organisations. 75 another people and companies will no longer be able to operate in the EU and must besides be afraid of asset freeze. Further criminal measures are besides planned against organisations and individuals spreading false news and human rights violations.
On Wednesday, diplomats informed about the planned measures after voting in the Permanent Representatives Committee of the 27 associate States. The decision on sanctions is to be formally taken at a gathering of EU abroad ministers next Tuesday (20 May 2025) and will enter into force immediately.
This is the 17th package of sanctions since the beginning of the war in 2022. The last sanctions against Russia were adopted in February, on the 3rd anniversary of the war with Ukraine. These included, above all, fresh trade restrictions and steps against the Russian media, but besides measures against the "shadow flight". President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenski (47) called on the EU to impose "strongest" sanctions on Moscow on Tuesday if Russian president Vladimir Putin did not attend the gathering with Zelenski which Kiev had proposed on Thursday in Istanbul.
