Hundreds of Russian shadow tankers are passing through NATO waters - this poses a danger
Russian shadow tankers carrying millions of dollars worth of oil under sanctions are passing through the English Channel. Amid growing tensions between Russia and NATO, the British Royal Navy has stepped up surveillance of vessels subject to US and allied sanctions in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. This was reported by The Public, citing Fox News.
The TV channel reported that up to 800 shadow tankers could have passed through the strait, continuing to finance Russian President Vladimir Putin's war against Ukraine.
Among the Russian-linked oil tankers tracked by VesselFinder and subject to Western sanctions are Rigel, Hyperion and Kousai. According to the TV channel, three of these vessels passed through the strait this month loaded with sanctioned oil.
The 885-foot Suezmax-class tanker Rigel, flying the flag of Cameroon, left the Russian port of Primorsk on 2 February with a cargo of up to one million barrels of oil worth about $55 million. The vessel is subject to sanctions by the United Kingdom, the EU and Canada and is prohibited from using the port infrastructure of these jurisdictions, but under maritime law it has the right to peaceful passage.
The tanker Kousai, flying the flag of Sierra Leone, left the port of Ust-Luga on 2 February. The authorities demanded that the ship provide proof of insurance within 24 hours.
Hyperion, which is also under US sanctions, changed its flag after delivering oil to Venezuela to conceal ownership and avoid restrictions.
Security experts warn of a growing risk of geopolitical escalation in the region. Professor Michael Clarke told Sky News that there may come a time when the UK and its allies will take much tougher action against Russian ships. According to him, there is a real possibility of a militarised confrontation at sea in the English Channel or the North Sea this year.
A spokesperson for the UK Ministry of Defence said that deterring, disrupting and degrading Russia's shadow fleet is a priority for the government. He added that, together with its allies, the country is stepping up its response to such vessels and will continue to do so.
Since October 2024, the UK Ministry of Defence has requested insurance confirmation for more than 600 suspected vessels.
The US is also taking a tough stance. Since December 2025, the American authorities have detained at least seven tankers linked to the trade in sanctioned oil, including several in the Caribbean region.
