The EU is preparing sanctions against Russia’s “shadow fleet” and ships from North Korea

The next round of EU sanctions against Russia is expected to target Russia’s “shadow fleet” of tankers that carry oil at a price above the ceiling of $60 a barrel. Punitive measures will also affect other cargo ships carrying North Korean military equipment to the Russian Federation, Reuters reported on April 25, citing an EU source.

Earlier in April, EU trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said the bloc was preparing the 14th package of sanctions against Russia to be adopted in the spring.

More: 26,000 cubic meters of Russian fuel destroyed in Smolensk strike: Ukrainian intelligence (VIDEO)

“The Shadow Fleet”

The EU, the US and the Group of Seven countries (D-7) in December 2022 imposed a price cap on Russian seaborne oil of $60 a barrel as part of efforts to reduce Moscow’s fossil fuel revenues. Although the measure was initially successful, Russia was ultimately able to largely avoid the consequences by using a “shadow fleet” of uninsured tankers.

A few days ago, Sweden announced that the next package of sanctions against Moscow should be aimed at this particular fleet – ships that secretly transfer oil to each other, eventually losing track of it.

Photo: iStock

Reuters has already reported that Russia’s oil and gas revenues in April will be almost twice what they were in the same month last year, indicating that Western sanctions are not as effective as expected.

More: Where are the sanctions? Russia’s oil and gas revenues will double in April

Weapons from North Korea to Russia

Russia is also countering its heavy losses on the battlefield by strengthening its military ties with other countries isolated from the international scene, namely Iran and North Korea.

North Korea is emerging as Russia’s leading arms supplier, reportedly providing Moscow with massive military packages, including ballistic missiles and more than 3 million artillery shells.

More: North Korea gives missiles to Russia: This is how Putin got closer to Kim Jong Un

While satellite images show North Korean military aid entering Russia via their shared border in the Far East, other deliveries are likely to have been made by cargo ships.

The 14th round of sanctions will also reportedly target 40 more companies based in the United Arab Emirates, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and China that are said to be selling dual-use technology to Russia.

More: Russia Violates UN Sanctions It Approved: Delivers Oil to North Korea