Dozens of oil tankers sanctioned by the UK in response to Russia's war in Ukraine have sailed through the English Channel this month despite defence officials vowing to take 'assertive action'.
Since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has employed aging tankers, referred to as the shadow fleet, to evade sanctions on its oil exports. BBC reports that the UK government received legal assurances that such vessels can be detained, yet 42 sanctioned tankers tracked by BBC Verify passed through the English Channel after receiving this guidance.
Among these vessels was the Sofos, sanctioned in May 2025 and seen navigating the Channel after traveling from Venezuela, while current tracking data shows the ship loaded oil in Russia mid-November. Other prominent vessels, like the Nasledie, also transited; it was reported that a major fraction of Russian oil is carried by such sanctioned tankers.
Despite governmental efforts to address the activities of the shadow fleet, British officials have yet to intercept these vessels effectively. Critics have voiced their disappointment over this inaction, adding pressure on the government to tighten monitoring and enforcement of sanctions to support Ukraine.
In January, UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that new assertive actions against these vessels would be undertaken, yet these promises have yet to materialize effectively against vessels operating under false flags or evading tracking. The shadow fleet continues to be a significant factor in enabling Russia to mitigate the impacts of sanctions on its oil economy.
