The European Parliament has adopted a resolution urging the EU and its Member States to intensify efforts to curb Russia’s ability to evade sanctions through its so-called “phantom fleet” — a network of outdated and often uninsured vessels that transport Russian oil. Lawmakers call for tougher controls, stricter penalties, and an outright ban on Russian fossil fuel imports, including LNG, to block loopholes and protect maritime safety.
The EU and G7 imposed a $60 (€57) per barrel price cap on Russian oil exports in 2022 to restrict Moscow’s income and limit funding for the war in Ukraine. In response, Russia invested approximately €9 billion in a fleet of aging vessels, often flagged under countries like Gabon, the Cook Islands, and Panama, to operate under the radar and sidestep sanctions. This “phantom fleet,” estimated to include up to 1,400 vessels, transports crude oil primarily to India, China, and Turkey, where it is refined and re-exported to Europe in various forms, effectively bypassing the sanctions.
MEPs call for enhanced surveillance using drones and satellites, with penalties for vessels sailing through European waters without valid insurance. They also recommend banning high-seas oil transfers between vessels and allocating additional resources for rapid response in the event of oil spills, citing environmental risks and the fleet’s potential to be used in hybrid operations against EU interests.
The resolution is a push towards tightening the sanction regime against Russia, which some MEPs argue has so far been undermined by this complex shadow fleet operation.
