UK sanctions Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil, along with 51 “shadow fleet” ships transporting crude and LNG for Moscow

The UK has imposed a raft of new sanctions targeting Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” blacklisting 51 vessels involved in transporting Russian crude and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil, as well as their affiliated companies in China, India, and the United Arab Emirates, have also come under increased scrutiny, as per announcements made by the UK Foreign Office (FCDO) and Treasury earlier today.

According to the British government, the measures cover 44 oil tankers carrying Russian crude and seven carriers involved in shipments of liquefied natural gas, including from the Arctic LNG-2 project. All vessels were designated as being involved in the transportation of Russian energy resources and are now banned from receiving insurance, undergoing repair, or gaining entry to UK ports or any operations under British jurisdiction.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the move shows that the UK and its allies are “piling the pressure on Putin — going after his oil, gas, and shadow fleet.” Chancellor Rachel Reeves added that “Russian oil is being pushed off the global market” and that the UK “will continue to strip away the funding that fuels [Putin’s] war machine.”

The UK government noted that the announcement coincided with the opening of the Russian Energy Week forum in Moscow, undermining what it called the Kremlin’s efforts to promote its “most valuable funding stream” internationally.

According to London, as Russia’s oil revenues decline, Moscow has sought to compensate by expanding LNG production, leading to the blacklisting of eight LNG tankers, along with China’s Beihai LNG terminal, which has received gas from the Arctic LNG-2 project (sanctioned by the UK in February 2024).

The government also announced a ban on imports of petroleum products refined from Russian crude in third countries, a move aimed at closing loopholes that allow Moscow to skirt restrictions through foreign processing.

A total of 51 vessels were added to the UK sanctions list, which can be found here.

Separately, sanctions were also imposed on 35 companies and five individuals, including Russia's two largest oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil, as well as their affiliated entities in China, India, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). All designated entities face asset freezes and a ban on the provision of trust services.

According to an explanatory notice released by the UK Treasury, sanctions against Rosneft and Lukoil were introduced due to the fact that the firms are “involved in obtaining a benefit from or supporting the Government of Russia” and operate within a sector of strategic significance to the Kremlin. The statement said both companies generate economic value for the Russian state, thereby supporting its capacity to continue its aggression against Ukraine.

The two Russian oil companies export a combined 3.1 million barrels of crude per day. Rosneft accounts for nearly half of Russia’s total oil production, which represents about 6% of global output, according to the announcement. The addition also means that Russia's four largest oil majors are now under UK sanctions, as the third and fourth largest, Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, were sanctioned in January 2025.

The measures target Rosneft’s foreign partners, including UAE-based firms Novus Energy DMCC, Wissol Commodities FZCO, and Alghaf Marine DMCC, along with India’s Nayara Energy Limited. These companies were involved in the transport and trade of Russian oil and were deemed to be benefiting from cooperation with the Russian government.

Earlier reporting by Reuters indicated that Saudi Arabia and Iraq had halted oil shipments to India’s Nayara Energy, a refinery consortium led by Rosneft, after the European Union imposed sanctions against it in July. Those restrictions effectively cut the refinery off from suppliers in the Persian Gulf, forcing it to switch entirely to Russian crude by August. Nayara’s Vadinar refinery, with a capacity of 400,000 barrels per day, accounts for about 8% of India’s refining capacity.

The sanctions list also includes several Russian banks and technology companies, among them the National Payment Card System (NSPK), BBR Bank, Solid Bank, Transstroybank, and Primsoсbank, all of which were said to operate in sectors of strategic importance to the Kremlin.

A number of Russian and foreign technology suppliers accused of providing equipment and technologies that either support Russian industry or contribute to the destabilization of Ukraine were also blacklisted. Those companies include NPK Progress, Pergam Engineering, Elektra Pro, Chartis DV, Maxcomm, Absolut Trade, Lmsistemy, ARS Global, INOI International (UAE), LMM Electronics FZE (UAE), S-Mikron Elektronik (Turkey), ALT Capital (Singapore), and China Thai Corporation Group (Thailand).

The UK also sanctioned several Chinese and Hong Kong-based companies: Horsway Tech, Izzition E-Technology, MSuntech Electronics, Sure Technology, Shenzhen JLFY Technology, and YW NL E-Commerce. The list also names Chinese energy and port operators: National Pipeline Group Beihai Liquefied Natural Gas, Shandong Baogang International Port, Shandong Haixin Port, Shandong Jingang Port, and Shandong Yulong Petrochemical.

In addition to vessels and companies, the list also included five new individuals: Maxim Ageyev, Dmitriy Dmitriev, Maxim Krasnov, Narmina Dadashova, and Vladislav Gromov. The UK Treasury said all of them own or manage entities involved in schemes benefiting the Russian government or in the supply of technologies linked to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.