A joint investigation by POLITICO and the non-profit group SourceMaterial has identified at least nine oil spills involving ships connected to Russia’s "shadow fleet" since 2021.
These spills, reported by POLITICO on October 16, pose serious environmental risks around the world.
The investigation used satellite images from SkyTruth along with shipping data from Lloyd’s List and Kpler.
The report explains that Russia’s shadow fleet, which has grown to over 600 tankers since Western sanctions were introduced, often transports illegal goods using old, uninsured ships.
These vessels have caused oil spills in areas from Thailand to Mexico and Italy, and passed through key shipping routes like the Panama Canal and the Red Sea. Experts are warning that these incidents could lead to serious disruptions in global trade.
The aging ships in this fleet are described as a "ticking time bomb" due to their higher risk of oil spills, which could have disastrous effects on the environment and trade.
These vessels are hard to regulate, often lack insurance, and avoid international oversight, making it difficult to hold them responsible for any accidents or environmental damage.
Russia has increasingly relied on this shadow fleet, especially to bypass sanctions imposed after its invasion of Ukraine. This is part of a broader strategy to keep selling oil while avoiding export restrictions.
The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) estimates that about 80% of Russia’s seaborne crude oil is now transported on ships outside of Western control, with the number of shadow fleet vessels more than tripling since 2022.
According to CREA, this shadow fleet has moved about €80 billion worth of oil since the G7 imposed a price cap on Russian exports two years ago.
Russia is said to be using over 600 tankers, many hidden through shell companies, to get around sanctions like the G7’s $60-per-barrel price cap.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, has previously urged European countries to take action against this shadow fleet of tankers transporting Russian oil.
