Britain has announced sanctions on 20 ships allegedly linked to transporting Russian oil, as part of its ongoing attempt to strangle Russia’s war economy. These sanctions target what the UK government calls the “shadow fleet,” a group of vessels believed to be helping Russia evade international sanctions.
Among the ships affected are Andaman Skies, Mianzimu, and Ocean Faye, all of which have carried millions of barrels of Russian oil this year. The sanctions aim to block or restrict these ships’ access to British ports, making it more difficult for them to operate.
This latest move comes just a day after Britain joined 11 other Western nations in agreeing to further disrupt this so-called shadow fleet, in a bid to prevent sanctions breaches. The UK had already sanctioned 30 Russian oil tankers the previous month and imposed restrictions on over 100 ships responsible for transporting Russian energy.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer justified the move, stating, “As Putin’s oil revenues continue to fuel the fires of his illegal war, Ukrainian families are enduring cold, dark nights, often without heating, light or electricity, targeted by Russia’s relentless missile attacks.” He added that these sanctions would increase pressure on Russia’s already struggling war economy.
Alongside these sanctions, the UK has pledged £35 million to help Ukraine repair its energy grid, a necessary step as the country faces its third winter of war.
But here’s the reality: sanctions like these have done little to stop Russia’s war machine. While the West tightens its grip on the Russian economy, Putin’s ability to skirt these measures—through workarounds like the shadow fleet—shows just how ineffective these actions truly are. Instead of weakening Russia, they’ve mostly hurt ordinary citizens in countries like the UK and Ukraine, who bear the brunt of soaring energy prices and a prolonged war.
