FT: Ukraine says Russian “shadow fleet” ships could be considered military assets

Ukraine has argued that vessels belonging to Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" could be regarded as military assets rather than purely commercial ships, as Kyiv seeks to justify its increasing attacks on tankers transporting Russian oil and gas.

In a letter sent to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on June 26, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said Russia's use of the vessels to support its war effort raises questions about their legal status.

"Legitimate questions arise as to whether the activities of such vessels can be regarded solely as ordinary commercial operations," Kuleba wrote in the letter, seen by the Financial Times.

Ukraine is estimated to have struck around a dozen sanctioned shadow fleet vessels last year. These ships are typically used to transport Russian oil cargoes while circumventing Western sanctions. Kyiv also says Russia has attacked more than 200 commercial vessels since the start of its full-scale invasion in 2022.

Earlier in June, Moscow accused Ukraine of "terrorism" in a letter to the IMO following an attack on the Russian-flagged liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker Arctic Metagaz in the Mediterranean Sea in March.

Responding to the accusation, Kuleba argued that Russian energy shipments play a direct role in financing the Kremlin's military campaign.

"Critical to the generation of budget revenues for the Russian Federation and the continuation of its war effort," he said, referring to Russian oil and gas carriers.

The letter, first reported by Lloyd's List, comes amid a renewed escalation of maritime attacks by both Russia and Ukraine in the Black Sea.

According to Kuleba, Russia has attacked 59 merchant vessels, including the Turkish cargo ship MV Victress and the German-owned Helga, which was transporting 25,000 tonnes of corn to the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk.

He said the MV Victress was left unseaworthy after a major fire broke out on the ship's bridge, while the Helga also sustained fire damage.

According to maritime intelligence company Windward, no Russian-flagged LNG tanker has transited the Mediterranean since the March attack on the Arctic Metagaz. Instead, Russian vessels have reportedly been rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope.

By Sabina Mammadli