The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on 135 oil tankers, part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” in an effort to cut off financial flows that Moscow uses to fund the war in Ukraine, AFP reported.

The British Foreign Office announced that sanctions were also imposed on a ship services company and an oil trading firm as part of efforts to restrict the activities of a fleet that has “illegally transported cargo worth $24 billion since the beginning of 2024.”

According to security experts, Russia uses outdated vessels to circumvent international sanctions banning its oil exports. Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the European Union and the UK have sanctioned hundreds of vessels.

“These new sanctions will further dismantle Putin’s shadow fleet and dry up his war chest, which relies on oil revenues,” said British Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

The measures were announced just days after the UK and the EU lowered the price cap on crude oil, aiming to further limit the flow of funds to the Russian military machine.

The UK government sanctioned Intershipping Services LLC, accused of registering shadow fleet ships under the Gabon flag, as well as Litasco Middle East DMCC, linked to the Russian oil company Lukoil, due to its involvement in transporting large volumes of Russian oil via such vessels.

“As Putin continues to stall and avoid serious peace negotiations, we will not stand idly by,” Lammy said. “We will use the full force of the sanctions regime to increase economic pressure at every possible opportunity.”

The UK has called for a 50-day campaign to arm Ukraine, following former U.S. President Donald Trump’s ultimatum to Moscow to reach a peace agreement with Kyiv within the same timeframe. Trump also promised new military aid for Ukraine, financed by NATO allies, while Ukrainian cities endure intensified Russian airstrikes. |BGNES