Russia Evading Oil Sanctions with Night Transfers Near Greece and Cyprus, Ukraine Warns

Russia is using covert maritime operations in international waters near Greece and Cyprus to evade Western oil sanctions and maintain critical revenue flows for its war effort in Ukraine, according to a recent disclosure by Ukraine’s military intelligence agency.

In a statement published this week, Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) identified a specific Aframax-class oil tanker—IMO 9247443—as a key vessel involved in these operations. The ship, which operates without Western insurance coverage, has been engaged in ship-to-ship oil transfers since July 2024. These transfers occur offshore, away from port oversight, and are frequently conducted under the cover of night with the vessel’s tracking systems disabled.

The revelation underscores a growing challenge for international enforcement bodies attempting to curtail Russia’s access to global energy markets through sanctions. The circumvention techniques—ranging from disabling automatic identification systems (AIS) to falsifying shipping documents—allow Russian-origin crude to be blended, reflagged, and rerouted to third countries without detection.

According to HUR, this activity is part of a broader, organized logistics network often referred to as the “shadow fleet.” These are typically older, poorly maintained tankers that have been removed from the oversight of traditional maritime authorities and repurposed specifically to avoid sanctions. Many of these ships, officials warn, lack valid insurance or certification, posing substantial environmental risks in the event of a spill or mechanical failure.

Ukraine’s intelligence report estimates that over 500 tankers are currently operating in this shadow network, with a combined carrying capacity exceeding 63 million metric tons. The report also includes information on 159 specific tankers and 55 captains believed to be actively facilitating Russia’s evasion strategy.

In Brussels, European policymakers have taken steps to address these risks. The European Union’s 17th sanctions package, adopted in May, included new restrictions targeting vessels known to engage in illegal ship-to-ship transfers. Additional measures have focused on limiting access to Western insurance markets and placing diplomatic pressure on flag states that enable this activity.

However, experts argue that the response remains insufficient.

“Russia is testing the resolve of the sanctions regime,” said one EU diplomat familiar with the matter. “And unless enforcement becomes both global and aggressive, the shadow fleet will continue operating with impunity.”

Ukraine’s intelligence services are calling for a significant tightening of sanctions, including lowering the oil price cap to $30 per barrel, banning STS operations in G7 and EU waters, and ending imports of refined products made from Russian crude. Without such action, they warn, Russia’s energy revenues will continue to finance its aggression—and the world’s coastal waters may bear the environmental cost.