Australia has imposed sanctions on 60 Russian oil tankers allegedly involved in circumventing international restrictions, marking the country’s first direct action against Moscow’s so-called “shadow fleet.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) confirmed the sanctions on Wednesday, noting that the vessels had already been blacklisted by key allies, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union.
“These ships have been instrumental in enabling Russia to evade global sanctions and continue its illegal and immoral war against Ukraine,” the department stated. “They operate under deceptive practices — such as frequently changing flags (‘flag-hopping’), disabling maritime tracking systems, and lacking adequate insurance — to facilitate the illicit transport of sanctioned Russian oil and goods.”
Australia has now imposed sanctions on more than 1,400 Russian individuals and entities since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The announcement follows a related diplomatic flashpoint last month, when Canberra condemned the sentencing of Australian national Oscar Jenkins by a Russian court. Jenkins, who had volunteered in Ukraine, was handed a 13-year sentence in a penal colony — a move Australia denounced as the result of a “sham trial.”
