The First Deputy Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, Oleg Luhovsky, gave a reported to the Ukrainian President that intelligence reveals Vladimir Putin is attempting to expand his sanctioned oil tanker fleet.
Luhovsky briefred President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday, who said, “I also instructed the Foreign Intelligence Service to provide partners with new information regarding Russia’s attempts to expand its tanker fleet.
“Due to our coordinated pressure measures – together with a number of states – against the shadow fleet, at least 20 percent of its vessels have been halted, and Russia is now trying to compensate for this loss by bringing in new tankers. All of them must be added to sanctions lists.”
He added that sanctions will continue to place pressure on Putin’s shadow fleet wherever they sail in the world.
He said that “the current restrictions on Russia’s maritime oil exports are expected to curb Russia’s annual revenues by at least $30 billion.”
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“Additional pressure will certainly increase this amount of Russian losses and therefore reduce the financing of Russia‘s war. We will also inform our partners about new schemes used by Chinese companies to help Russia circumvent sanctions against the financial sector,” Zelenskyy added.
British special forces from the Royal Navy’s Special Boats Service (SBS) are “likely to lead the missions” on Russian shadow fleet tankers who are operating in UK waters.
The Russian shadow fleet has been sanctioned and the elite special forces could now target any vessels which is close to and or in British waters, The Times reported.
A defence source speaking to the Times said, “There is a broader appetite across Europe to do more, so it could be the UK contributing more to other European nations’ operations or doing something jointly.
“These types of things are quite complex.”
Last week the Venezuelan oil tanker Bella 1 who changed their name to the Marinera and then changed country status to being a Russian flagged ship has been seized by the US, according to NBC News.
Photos online show a MH-6 Little Bird helicopter carrying US forces approaching the Marinera in the North Atlantic.
The US operation was led by the Homeland Security with American military support, it is not known if the UK gave any assistance.
A at the time Russian Foreign Ministry told RT, “Moscow Monitoring Abnormal Situation Around Russian Tanker Marinera with Concern.
“The vessel is sailing in the international waters of the North Atlantic under the Russian state flag and in full compliance with the norms of international maritime law.”
“Despite being 4,000 km from US shores, the civilian vessel has been shadowed for days by US and NATO assets,” the Ministry added.
