EU preparing more sanctions against Russia's shadow fleet, Bloomberg says
EU member nations hope to approve the package by the end of the year, in time to adopt the sanctions on Feb. 24, 2025 — the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.
Sanctions Evasion
London unable to retrieve UK-licensed arms used to protect Russian oil tankers, Bloomberg reports
The United Kingdom has been unable to retrieve its weapons from floating armories offering weapons and accommodation for guards defending Russian oil tankers, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 5.
Zelensky calls for tougher sanctions as Russia launched 2,000 drone attacks on Ukraine in October using foreign-made parts
"This volume of 'Shahed' drones means over 170,000 components that should have been blocked from reaching Russia," Zelensky said in his evening address. "Microchips, microcontrollers, processors, and many other parts are essential for enabling this terror."
US imposes sanctions on nearly 400 individuals, legal entities, including Putin's relative
The recent limitations are applied to companies involved in sanctions evasion networks in 17 jurisdictions, including China, India, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Thailand, and Turkey, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.
70% of Russian oil shipped by shadow fleet, posing environment risk, report says
Russia's "shadow fleet" of older and poorly insured tankers transports 70% of the country's seaborne exports, according to an analysis published by the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) Insititute on Oct. 14.
US sanctions Russian individuals, entities engaging in prohibited transactions with North Korea
"The U.S. remains strongly committed to leveraging all our available tools to disrupt this and other schemes intended to support Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and enable (North Korea's) illicit access to the international financial system," said Treasury official Bradley Smith.
China supplies Russia's war machine, receives military tech in exchange, US says
China is supplying Russia with materials that directly boost Russia's war machine, and in return is receiving military technology support from Russia, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell told journalists on Sept. 10.
US oil group expands in Russia as Western rivals leave, FT reports
SLB, the world's largest oilfield services company, signed new government contracts and posted over 1,000 job postings in Russia within the last year.
Bloomberg: UAE bans Eswatini-flagged ships in further crackdown on Russian shadow fleet
The United Arab Emirates introduced a ban on ships bearing the flag of the African nation of Eswatini, signaling further restrictions on "shadow fleet" vessels carrying Russian oil, Bloomberg reported on Aug. 8.
Western companies continue insuring Russian oil tankers in spite of potential price cap violations, Reuters says
According to data seen by Reuters, five Western insurance companies have continued providing services to Russian oil tankers, despite concerns that most Russian oil is still being traded above the $60 per barrel price cap.
Russia passes new cryptocurrency law in effort to dodge Western sanctions
Russia on July 30 passed a law that will allow businesses to use cryptocurrencies in international trade, as the Kremlin seeks ways to circumvent Western sanctions, Reuters reported on July 30. The new law will go into force in September.
Hong Kong shell companies facilitate Russian sanctions evasion, NYT reports
These companies are owned by oligarchs with ties to the Russian defense industry, and they have funneled millions of chips and sensors to sanctioned defense tech firms in Russia.
German court convicts German-Russian couple of supplying drone parts to Russia
The court said that the man, assisted by his common-law wife, had sent around 120,000 spare parts and other components for Orlan-10 reconnaissance drones to Russia between 2020 and 2023 in violation of an EU embargo on the export of such goods.
Japan arrests first Russian for sanctions evasion
A Russian has been arrested in Japan on suspicion of evading sanctions for the first time, Japanese news outlet Nikkei reported on July 10.
Lithuanian customs discover scheme to violate sanctions, export cars to Russia
The EU instituted a ban on the export of all new and used cars above a certain engine size (greater than 1.900 cm³) to Russia in the immediate aftermath of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Russian billionaire imports luxury jet worth $110 million, evading sanctions
Sources in the aviation business identified sanctioned real estate mogul Zarakh Iliev as the likely owner of the jet.
FT: EU seeks to stop Russian imports of Western luxury cars via Belarus
The European Union is considering imposing sanctions on Belarus as a way to close a trade loophole that has allowed Russia to import luxury cars and other banned goods produced in Western countries, the Financial Times reported on May 23.
Media: Investigation shows Russian forces may use satellite systems made in Ukraine
About 22,000 Gilat SkyEdge internet communications systems, valued at $5 million, were imported to Russia in 2023. The systems were manufactured at a facility in Uzhhorod, Ukraine.
Bloomberg: EU planning restrictions on 11 vessels of Russia's shadow fleet
The shadow fleet refers to aging and largely uninsured oil tankers that Russia uses to transport oil above the $60 per barrel price cap that the EU, the U.S., and the Group of Seven (G7) countries imposed in December 2022 as part of the effort to cut Moscow's fossil fuels revenue.
RFE/RL Schemes investigation reveals over 2,000 foreign-made parts used in Russian Sukhoi fighter jets
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's investigation project Schemes revealed on April 17 that over 2,000 foreign-made electronic components are allegedly contained in Russian Sukhoi (Su-type) fighter jets, primarily originating from Japan and the United States.
WSJ: Russia using cryptocurrency to avoid sanctions
Russian smugglers are using the cryptocurrency tether to circumvent Western sanctions and purchase weapons and drone parts, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on April 1.
Bloomberg: US and UK tracking $20 billion in crypto transfers to Russia
The U.S. and U.K. are investigating several cryptocurrency transactions valued at more than $20 billion that passed through a Russian-based virtual exchange, Bloomberg reported on March 28.
Germany charges 5 people for sale of gas turbines to Russian state-owned company in occupied Crimea
The individuals involved reportedly knew that the turbines would ultimately end up in occupied Crimea, despite the original sales documents saying they would be installed in Russia proper.
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