A Russian tanker that Britain sanctioned a year ago has sailed past Shetland this week carrying about 300,000 barrels of Russian diesel bound for North America, The Times reports. On Saturday, the RAF was also sent to check on a second sanctioned tanker, the Myra, west of Scotland, which then sailed on towards Egypt. As Russia keeps hitting Ukrainian homes and power plants with missiles and drones paid for by its energy exports, Ukrainian campaign group Razom We Stand says Britain must stop letting sanctioned tankers sail through its waters unchallenged.
The Leruo’s cargo is one of those made possible by a US Treasury licence easing sanctions on Russian diesel until 7 April, and the first such cargo for the US is due in New York on 7 November, Reuters reports. Britain has already shown it can act: in June, UK forces boarded and detained the sanctioned tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel.
Dr Svitlana Romanko, Founder and Executive Director of Razom We Stand, said:
“Every barrel on board these ships exporting Russian fossil fuels is money for the missiles and drones Russia fires at Ukrainian homes every night, bringing more civilian casualties. Britain sanctioned this tanker a year ago, yet it sails past Shetland unchallenged, and Washington’s new diesel licence now gives it a buyer. Sanctions only work when they are enforced at sea, so the UK must stop and inspect sanctioned vessels in its waters, and the US must withdraw General License 135 and enforce the sanctions law Congress passed. Until this is done, those who do not actively curtail Russia’s energy export business must realise that they have Ukrainian blood on their hands.”
HM Coastguard said the Myra’s crew confirmed their distress alert on Saturday was a false alarm, set off as they left an area of heavy swell, and the empty tanker continued on its route, TheJournal.ie reports.
Britain’s own rules also leave a door open to Russian fuel. General Trade Licence GBSAN0004 still lets diesel and jet fuel refined from Russian crude in third countries into the UK until 1 January 2027.
Razom We Stand calls on the UK Government to use powers it already has:
- Stop and inspect sanctioned tankers in UK waters, as UK forces did with the Smyrtos in June, instead of escorting or waving them through
- Close the GBSAN0004 loophole for Russian-origin diesel and jet fuel now, not on 1 January 2027
- Work with European allies to press Washington to withdraw the diesel licence that gives sanctioned Russian tankers a buyer
