BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union on Monday imposed sanctions on five businessmen linked to Russian state oil companies Lukoil and Rosneft, targeting companies accused of circumventing Russian oil sanctions by operating vessels for Moscow’s aging shadow fleet of tankers.
Oil revenues are a vital part of the Russian economy, allowing President Vladimir Putin to pour money into the war against Ukraine without fueling inflation among ordinary people and avoiding a currency collapse.
Member states, especially France, have vowed to crack down on the shadow fleet, which experts estimate at more than 400 ships, for violating sanctions. They are also trying to strike deals with flag-flying countries to facilitate boarding.
The EU headquarters said these businessmen “controlled vessels transporting crude oil or petroleum products originating in or exported from Russia, concealing the actual origin of the oil while engaging in irregular and high-risk shipping practices.”
The four shipping companies attacked were located in the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam and Russia. They own or manage sanctioned shadow fleet tankers that transport oil “while engaging in irregular and high-risk shipping practices,” a statement said.
The sanctions were agreed at a meeting of the Group of 27 foreign ministers in Brussels and mainly involve asset freezes and travel bans.
The EU’s move adds to growing pressure on the Shadow Fleet. Last month, Ukraine used domestically produced Sea Baby naval drones to attack two other Russian oil tankers in the Black Sea. Both are subject to international sanctions.
Separately, the EU imposed sanctions on members of the Russian military intelligence agency GRU and a hacker group called Cadet Blizzard, accusing them of launching cyber attacks against Ukraine, the EU and unnamed NATO allies.
The EU has also added to its sanctions list a number of foreign policy analysts and influencers accused of promoting pro-Russian propaganda or conspiracy theories.