Ukraine says it disrupted scheme supplying Russia’s “shadow fleet”

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has disrupted another scheme allegedly used by Russia to bypass international sanctions, identifying what it described as an international criminal group involved in purchasing maritime vessels for Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet”.

The investigation established that the group included Ukrainian citizens and foreigners, Caliber.Az reports, citing the SBU.

According to the case materials, the suspects searched for and purchased necessary vessels in European countries, provided legal support, and assembled crews.

“After that, the ships would sail into open waters, disable navigation and tracking equipment, and proceed to a designated point in neutral waters, where they were secretly transferred to the Russian side,” the SBU wrote in a post on Telegram.

It said available data indicate that Russia uses these vessels for the needs of its oil industry within the framework of the so-called “shadow fleet.”

“The SBU documented how the participants of the scheme supplied the country with tugboats used to escort large oil tankers when entering ports. Security Service officers detained one member of the group who was on Ukrainian territory. During searches, computers and smartphones containing evidence of the transactions were seized. (...) The SBU continues investigative and operational actions regarding other members of the scheme, including foreign nationals,” it added.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov