According to a report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, 113 Russian vessels have used false flags in the first nine months of 2023 to transport 11 million tonnes of oil, valued at €4.7 billion ($5.4 billion), to evade sanctions related to the Ukraine war. The report highlights an alarming increase in these “shadow” tankers, with 96 sanctioned vessels flying false flags and many exploiting the flags of economically weak nations. Experts stress the need for the EU and UK to reform flagging regulations to combat this issue effectively. Enforcement challenges persist, as countries must balance sanctioning actions with potential retaliation from major oil buyers like China.
