Ukraine and Finland have uncovered a scheme to transfer a tugboat to Russia's "shadow fleet"
Ukrainian law enforcement officials, in collaboration with their Finnish counterparts, have uncovered a scheme involving the illegal transfer of a marine tugboat to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” which is used to circumvent international sanctions.
This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.
As part of the joint investigative team’s activities, prosecutors from the Office of the Prosecutor General have notified a Ukrainian citizen of their suspicion of aiding an aggressor state.
According to the investigation, the suspect participated in the purchase of the vessel in circumvention of sanctions and its subsequent transfer to a Russian company linked to the Russian Federation’s oil industry.
After leaving the port, the marine tugboat changed course and disappeared from the international vessel tracking system. Subsequently, the vessel was re-registered under the Russian flag.
Investigators believe the tugboat may have been used to escort oil tankers that support the Russian Federation’s “shadow fleet,” through which Russia attempts to circumvent international sanctions and continue oil exports.
During the searches, law enforcement officers seized computer equipment, documentation, and large sums of cash, which may serve as evidence in criminal proceedings.
Further investigative actions are currently underway to identify other individuals who may have been involved in organizing the scheme to transfer the vessel to the Russian side.
Law enforcement agencies emphasize that combating the activities of Russia’s “shadow fleet” is one of the key areas of international cooperation in the field of sanctions policy against Russia.
The European Union plans to strengthen satellite surveillance to monitor a potential ceasefire in Ukraine following agreements with Russia, as well as to track Russia’s “shadow fleet” and sanctions-evasion schemes. Kaja Kallas made this statement following an EU Council meeting in Brussels, emphasizing that this is not about political statements but about practical security monitoring tools.
