Ukraine has called on the UN to recognise Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ as a military target

This has been reported by the Financial Times, which has seen a letter from Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)

Ukraine has approached the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), a specialised agency of the UN, with a proposal to recognise tankers belonging to Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ as legitimate military targets.

The document states that vessels transporting Russian oil in circumvention of international sanctions cannot be regarded as ordinary civilian transport. The Ukrainian side emphasises that the revenue from such shipments is directly used to finance Russian aggression.

The letter also states that there are “legitimate questions” regarding the civilian status of such vessels, as they play a significant role in replenishing the Russian budget and covering military expenditure.

The initiative is intended to create a legal basis for stepping up Ukrainian strikes against Russian maritime logistics. It is estimated that over the past year, Ukraine has struck around ten vessels linked to Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’.

At the same time, as the Financial Times notes, Russia has attacked more than 200 commercial vessels since the start of the full-scale invasion. Recent incidents include strikes on the Turkish dry cargo ship MV Victress and the German vessel Helga.

For ordinary citizens, this initiative represents an attempt by Ukraine to step up international pressure on one of the main mechanisms enabling Russia to circumvent oil sanctions and secure the funds needed to continue the war.

European countries are also tightening controls on the ‘shadow fleet’. Many such tankers operate without proper insurance or fly false flags. It is estimated that there are currently over 1,500 such vessels worldwide.

Previously, Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service reported on the Kremlin’s intentions to expand its tanker fleet for oil exports under the Russian flag. This decision is linked to the increasing number of vessel detentions by European countries and the US.

NATO countries have also raised the issue of the ‘shadow fleet’ separately. A joint statement by the leaders of the Baltic states, published on the Finnish President’s website, notes that such vessels pose a threat to maritime security, the environment and critical underwater infrastructure.

The document emphasises that NATO member states reserve the right to act in accordance with international law regarding vessels that may circumvent sanctions or pose a security threat. To this end, they plan to step up monitoring, checks on insurance documents, route tracking and sanctions pressure.

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