In a recently adopted resolution, the European Parliament emphasized that Russia still succeeds in circumventing the international trade embargo through complex and often opaque methods. This shadow fleet consists of tankers leased from foreign shipping companies. Some of these vessels are registered in countries with weak oversight and enforcement structures.
Regarding the routes used for transporting Russian oil, it appears that the tankers often pass through the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea before sailing through the Mediterranean Sea and even the English Channel. These are strategic waterways through which the oil is shipped to countries in Asia, such as China and India.
These countries have not imposed sanctions on Russian oil and thus represent an important market for Moscow. It has also been shown that some tankers make stops in Middle Eastern ports where the oil is transferred to other vessels to complicate further origin investigations.
The European Commission has already set a price cap on Russian oil, intended to reduce the Kremlin's revenues. Additionally, cooperation with allies is underway to intensify inspections of suspicious vessels.
Nevertheless, it is clear that additional actions are needed to effectively combat the shadow fleet. Members of the European Parliament believe that the EU must now also target the shipowners and insurance companies involved.