Russia's 'Shadow Fleet': How it Bypasses Sanctions and What's Being Done

• Russia uses a 'shadow fleet' of old oil tankers with opaque ownership to circumvent Western sanctions imposed after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
• These vessels often turn off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) to conduct ship-to-ship transfers of Russian oil at sea, making them untraceable.
• Many tankers in the shadow fleet are old, over 15 years, making them more expendable if seized or involved in spills.
• Management companies for these vessels are located in various countries like UAE, Seychelles, and Mauritius, often using false or convenience flags.
• France recently intercepted a suspected shadow fleet tanker, and the US seized one in January, highlighting international efforts to counter these operations.

Why It Matters: Russia's 'shadow fleet' uses deceptive tactics to bypass sanctions, prompting international interception efforts.