European News, December 15, 2025, Avia.pro. The Council of the European Union announced new sanctions against five individuals and four entities from Russia linked to the activities of the Russian "shadow fleet," according to an official press release. The sanctions target businessmen with direct or indirect ties to major Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil. According to the EU, these individuals control vessels transporting crude oil or petroleum products originating in Russia or exported from Russia, concealing their actual origin and resorting to irregular and high-risk shipping practices.

The new restrictive measures also affected shipping companies based in the UAE, Vietnam, and Russia that own or operate "shadow" tankers already under sanctions. This decision is part of the EU's efforts to combat the circumvention of restrictions imposed on Russian oil exports since the conflict began in 2022. The sanctions include asset freezes and entry bans into the EU, which could impact the logistics of the "shadow fleet" transporting oil in defiance of Western restrictions.