"Analysis by the shipping intelligence publication Lloyd's List suggests that of those, at least 17 suspicious vessels joined the Russian registry over the past month, compared with 15 ships in the previous five months of 2025. The sudden flurry of activity appears to be linked to Donald Trump's announcement last month of what he called a US blockade of sanctioned oil tankers in and out of Venezuela."
"It had sought to evade American intervention by switching its flag from a falsified Guyanese flag to a Russian flag, a crude image of which had been painted on its side. The tactic failed to protect Marinera or a second vessel, known as M/T Sophia, which was seized in the Caribbean and escorted to the US by the coastguard on the grounds that it was conducting illicit activities."
Forty ships accused of belonging to a large shadow fleet moving sanctioned oil for Venezuela were reflagged to Russia last year, apparently seeking Kremlin protection from American seizure. Lloyd's List found at least 17 suspicious vessels joined the Russian registry over the past month, versus 15 in the previous five months of 2025. The surge followed Donald Trump's announcement of a US blockade on sanctioned tankers to and from Venezuela. The shadow fleet uses deceptive practices to move oil and gas in violation of sanctions and price caps. Several vessels used false flags or painted Russian markings but were intercepted and seized.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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