The European Union is preparing to increase sanctions pressure on Russia by including 17 vessels linked to the so-called “shadow fleet” used to circumvent oil sanctions in the 149th package of restrictive measures. According to EUobserver, 25 of these ships are currently in the Baltic and North Seas, making them priority targets for Brussels. The new sanctions package, scheduled for discussion on May 14, 2025, is aimed at reducing Moscow’s income from energy exports and tightening control over maritime shipping. The measures are expected to be finally approved at a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on May 20, which will be the next step in the economic standoff with Russia.

According to EUobserver, the “shadow fleet” includes vessels that transport Russian oil, often bypassing the G7 price cap of $60 per barrel. These ships, mostly registered in third countries such as Gabon or Panama, allow Russia to continue exporting despite the EU embargo. As Reuters notes, in 2024, about 70% of Russian oil was transported through such schemes, bringing Moscow revenues of $180 billion. The new sanctions package includes a ban on these ships calling at European ports, as well as restrictions on the provision of insurance and services to them, which will significantly complicate their operations.

The EU is paying particular attention to the Baltic and North Seas, where some Russian oil is shipped from the ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga. In December 2024, countries in the region, including Finland, Estonia and Sweden, agreed to jointly check the insurance certificates of tankers suspected of transporting sanctioned oil. According to Bloomberg, Estonia is already requesting data from ships in the Gulf of Finland, but is receiving responses from only 40% of them, highlighting the complexity of control.