Russian flags over a shadowy fleet of oil tankers

The Russian Federation is facing new challenges on the world's seas due to the detention of tankers carrying sanctioned oil. Following the seizure of five such vessels by the US military, a new trend has emerged: a fleet of shadowy oil tankers has begun to fly the Russian tricolour. The vessel operators believe that the presence of the Russian flag will help avoid detention by the US and thus ensure the unimpeded transportation of Venezuelan oil. This is reported by The Public with reference to The Wall Street Journal.

However, the US side has repeatedly demonstrated its determination to counter these attempts. Last weekend, there was a new setback - the tanker Bella 1, flying a sloppily drawn Russian flag, was seized during a special operation. The subsequent statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry about its readiness to release the Russian crew members emphasised the seriousness of the situation.

According to Lloyd's List Intelligence, in just two weeks since the sanctions were tightened, more than 15 tankers have changed their flags to Russian, but their share of the shadow fleet remains small. Richard Mead, editor-in-chief of the publication, notes that raising the Russian flag is becoming a way of protecting against detention, which can lead to serious diplomatic conflicts between Washington and Moscow.

In the last three months of 2025, seventy-five tankers changed their flags, including eighteen in December, mostly from states that have been subject to US sanctions. These changes raise new legal issues under international maritime law.

This process highlights the difficulties faced by the international community during the sanctions period. Fleet operators are attempting to conceal the origin of cargoes using a variety of methods, such as changing vessel names and falsifying coordinates. It is clear that in the face of increased scrutiny, modern technology and traditional navigation methods are interacting in new ways.

The situation highlights the role that Russia plays in the oil transportation market through its cooperation with the Venezuelan company PdVSA. This alliance has the potential for further confrontations between Moscow and the West, as it undermines US efforts to limit Russian oil exports.

Photo of the Bella 1 tanker, taken from the deck of a US Coast Guard cutter The Wall Street Journal