The DIU revealed how much oil Russia transported by the "shadow fleet"

The DIU revealed how much oil Russia transported by the "shadow fleet"

In 2024, Russia transported over 60% of its maritime oil exports thanks to a shadow fleet of tankers, including 78% of exported crude oil and 37% of oil products.

This was reported by the Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence on Facebook. reported on Facebook.

It is noted that the total maritime oil export of the aggressor country is estimated at more than 80 billion euros: crude oil - 57 billion euros, oil products - 26 billion euros. Russia’s shadow fleet consists of 387 tankers, transporting oil and oil products with a total cargo capacity of over 57 million metric tons.

"Currently, the aggressor country is changing its strategy regarding interaction with the shadow fleet — apart from the UAE, India, the Seychelles, and the Marshall Islands, it is also choosing China, including Hong Kong, as well as Russia, for registering the companies owning/managing the shadow tankers," the statement reads.

In addition, Russia is reallocating vessels under new "convenient" flags of the Comoros Islands, Curaçao, Djibouti, Guyana, Gambia, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Tanzania.

In the updated list of the shadow fleet, ships associated with operators of the Russian tanker fleet such as Fractal Marine Shipping (UAE), Gatik Ship Management (India), Sun Ship Management (UAE), and Hennesea Holdings Limited (UAE) have appeared. Since 2022, these companies have been regularly changing owners, employing a "ship juggling" tactic.

"Ships of the shadow fleet conceal data about vessels and cargo, switch off navigational equipment, creating threats to navigation. The dangerous STS-loading — transferring oil from tanker to tanker in open sea, which complicates control over the origin of raw materials — is widely used," the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine emphasized.

More than 90% of the shadow tankers published on the portal lack proper Western insurance, which means that in the event of an incident or oil spill, affected coastal countries may be left without compensation.