UK imposes sanctions on 10 vessels for transporting Russian oil

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - The British government on Wednesday announced sanctions on a group of vessels for using practices to avoid sanctions on Russian oil.

The UK has taken new steps to clamp down on Russia’s shadow fleet exporting oil in an to attempt to undermine UK and G7 sanctions, with the Foreign Office announcing sanctions on 10 ships.

Wednesday's sanctions mark the third time the UK has used its measures to sanction individual vessels, targeting those who undermine sanctions and facilitate Russia’s oil trade.

In a statement, the Foreign Office said new sanctions further crack down on Russian oil revenues, and Russia's "most critical source" of funding for its war in Ukraine.

The sanctioned ships will now be barred from entering the UK ports and will be refused access to the UK Ship Register.

The Foreign Office noted that just three of the vessels targeted Wednesday had collectively carried more than $5 billion worth of Russian oil since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.

"Today’s sanctions further undermine Russia’s ability to trade in oil via its shadow fleet," Foreign Secretary David Lammy said in the statement.

He added: "Alongside our partners, we will continue to send a stark message to Russia that the international community stands with Ukraine and we will not tolerate this illicit fleet."

So far, the UK has sanctioned over 2,000 individuals and entities under its Russia sanctions regime.