UK imposes new sanctions targeting Russia’s oil tankers

The United Kingdom unveiled a new round of sanctions targeting Russia’s oil industry on May 9, including asset freezes on directors of Coral Energy Group — now operating under the name 2Rivers Group.

The announcement came as leaders of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), a northern European security alliance, met in Norway to discuss regional defence cooperation and support for Ukraine, Caliber.Az reports foreign media. 

The UK government said the sanctions package includes restrictions on around 100 oil tankers believed to be part of Russia’s covert maritime network used to bypass international restrictions on oil exports.

Coral Energy, founded in 2010, operated out of Dubai and Singapore before it was rebranded as 2Rivers Group.

British authorities said Coral Energy had been “carrying on business in a sector of strategic significance to the government of Russia, namely the Russian energy sector.”

The UK had already sanctioned 2Rivers in December 2024, a move the company criticised at the time as deeply disappointing.

By Sabina Mammadli