For immediate release
Kyiv, Ukraine/London, UK
B4Ukraine, a global coalition of 90 civil society groups united under a common goal to defund Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine, has urged the UK government to strengthen its actions against Russia’s shadow fleet.
In a letter addressed to Foreign Secretary David Lammy, the coalition commended the UK’s leadership in recent international agreements and proposed further steps to disrupt Russia’s ability to evade sanctions and circumvent the oil price cap, particularly focusing on the issue of Russia’s shadow fleet. The shadow fleet comprises around 600 vessels and represents approximately 10% of the global “wet cargo” fleet. It carries approximately 1.7 million barrels of oil per day, generating significant funds to fuel Russia’s war chest, which allows Putin to continue inflicting immense suffering on the Ukrainian population.
The letter, endorsed by a diverse group of experts and activists, outlines several key recommendations:
- Enhanced Targeted Sanctions: The coalition applauds the UK’s recent decision to designate 17 vessels for sanctions. However, further action is urged to align with the US, which has sanctioned 40 vessels to date. Additional measures include sanctioning entities and individuals that support or engage with these vessels.
- Environmental Measures: Given that many shadow fleet vessels are poorly maintained and uninsured, posing significant environmental risks, the coalition calls for stricter enforcement of environmental laws in UK waters. This includes proof of adequate insurance, compliance with heavy fuel standards, and more stringent environmental standards for oil tankers. These uninsured tankers pose a serious risk of severe environmental damage in the English Channel and a multi-million-pound clean-up operation borne by UK taxpayers.
- Ban on Russia-linked Refined Oil Products: The coalition highlights a loophole in th
- Enhanced Due Diligence: To ensure compliance with the oil price cap, the UK should regulate the oil shipping industry to achieve higher transparency and due diligence standards. This includes requiring proof of price-cap-compliant sale contracts for insurance and other maritime services. e current UK ban on oil products refined in Russia. Since the ban on Russian oil products came into effect, over £600 million of oil products refined from Russian-origin crude oil have been imported into the UK. This ban does not cover imports from third-country refineries processing Russian crude oil. Closing this loophole is crucial to stopping funding the Russian war economy.
“The shadow fleet is a form of smuggling on an industrial scale – operating outside the international maritime sector with complete disregard for environmental standards and safety. It is only a matter of time before one of these vessels malfunctions and causes serious long-term ecological damage. Coastal communities anywhere from the Baltic Sea to Singapore would bear an enormous economic and environmental cost, irrespective of their stance on the war in Ukraine. Finding a way to stop this fleet from operating should be a major concern for the entire international community,” said Alex Prezanti, Co-Founder and Lead Counsel at State Capture: Research and Action.
“The continued operation of Russia’s shadow fleet allows the Kremlin to profit massively, fuelling its war chest and perpetuating the suffering of millions in Ukraine. The new UK Labour government has a critical role in severing these financial lifelines to ensure Russia no longer has the financial power to fund its war in Ukraine. By tightening sanctions and environmental regulations, we can not only protect our global waters but also stand in solidarity with Ukraine against aggression and tyranny.” said Svitlana Romanko, Founder and Executive Director of Razom We Stand.
“The B4Ukraine coalition has proposed a set of concrete measures that can significantly undermine Russia’s ability to circumvent the existing oil price cap policy and protect the UK’s territorial waters from environmental disasters posed by Russia’s shadow fleet. The UK government has a unique opportunity to lead on this issue now, and we are ready to support its efforts in defunding Putin’s war chest,” said Ellie Nichol, B4Ukraine’s Advocacy Director.
The letter emphasises the importance of multilateral cooperation and comprehensive policy measures to effectively address the challenges posed by Russia’s shadow fleet.
The recommendations are based on evidence-backed analysis by B4Ukraine members. They emphasise the need for coordinated policy interventions across multiple government departments and international allies. The coalition is keen to discuss these recommendations further with UK officials.
ENDS
You can view the full letter here
Razom We Stand is a Ukrainian organisation active internationally, calling for a total and permanent embargo on Russian fossil fuels and an immediate end to all investment into Russian oil and gas companies by phasing out fossil fuels globally.
Svitlana Romanko has appeared in top-tier international press, including The Guardian, Politico, Financial Times, Bloomberg, Washington Post, CNN, NBC, The Hill, Der Spiegel, Le Monde and more.
Press contact:
Paraic Walker
International Communications Specialist Razom We Stand
[email protected]
