UK Sanctions 70 Russian Tankers and Sea Freight Suppliers

UK Expands Russian Sanctions to 70 Tankers, Electronics Suppliers, and Sea Freight Operations

The United Kingdom has announced a sweeping expansion of its sanctions against Russia, adding 70 new tankers, several sea freight–related vessels, and key suppliers of electronics to its blacklist. This latest measure targets Russia’s oil and gas industry, maritime logistics, and military supply chain, tightening economic pressure on Moscow as the UK’s new Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper visits Kyiv to reaffirm London’s support for Ukraine.

With this action, the UK now maintains the largest global roster of sanctioned tankers, overtaking both the European Union and the United States. Many of the newly listed ships have connections to Russian energy giants Sovcomflot, Rosneft, and Gazprom, and play a crucial role in sea freight transportation of crude oil and LNG. Notable among them is the Vasily Dinkov (72,700 dwt), an Arctic-enhanced ice-class tanker introduced in 2008 to move oil from the Varandey oil field within the Arctic Circle. Several sea freight tankers linked to Gazprom, including the gas carrier Gazpromneft Zuid East (6,897), were also added, many of which had already appeared on U.S. sanction lists.

UK officials highlighted that the goal is to disrupt Russia’s shadow fleet—a network of tankers and sea freight carriers used to evade global oil restrictions—by cutting off revenue streams vital to sustaining the war. With nearly 500 tankers now sanctioned (up from just over 100 at the start of 2025), the UK is outpacing the EU’s 444 sanctioned vessels and far exceeding the United States, which lists just over 200.

Foreign Secretary Cooper stated, “International action to increase economic pressure on Russia and to cut off critical cash flows which he desperately needs to pay for this illegal war is vital. These sanctions mark the next stage of the UK’s leadership in ramping up economic pressure, alongside security support and collaboration with the Coalition of the Willing for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.”

The announcement followed Russia’s largest air assault of the war, with over 800 missiles and drones fired in a single night and more than 6,500 attacks recorded in July alone—a strike rate nearly ten times higher than a year ago. UK officials said these escalating attacks justified stronger measures against Russian oil exports and sea freight operations.

Beyond the maritime crackdown, the UK added 30 additional individuals and entities accused of sustaining Russia’s war machine. These include suppliers of electronics, chemicals, and explosive materials used in the production of missiles, drones, and other weapon systems. Several targeted companies are based outside Russia, including firms in China and Turkey, which were flagged for providing electronics widely used in Russian military drones and missiles.