West’s efforts to counter Russia’s shadow fleet are ‘imitation’ – maritime expert
Half of the Russian oil financing Moscow’s war effort is transported on ships owned by companies from NATO member states, primarily Greece and Türkiye, Ukrainian expert, an editor-in-chief of BlackSeaNews, Andrii Klymenkoі , said at the fifth Forum of the Crimea Platform’s Expert Network in Kyiv.
Klymenko described Western efforts to counter the shadow fleet as “imitation.” While some countries have detained vessels sailing under false flags or no flag at all, he said, such isolated detentions are not an achievement but an obligation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which requires any warship to stop a vessel bearing no state markings.
Despite President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urging allies for nearly a year to amend their national legislation, the detentions typically end with a fine for the captain, a suspended sentence and the vessel’s release, as keeping a ship in port costs as much as 50,000 euros per day.
The figures point to a steady monthly increase despite Western sanctions targeting Russian energy revenues. He said that four million metric tons were shipped from Baltic ports in February, 2026. Six million tons were transported in April, 7,7 million in May. In June, there was an all-time record: more than 8.5 million metric tons, nearly one-third of Russia’s total exports.
Klymenko pointed out that after India, Türkiye is the second-largest recipient of Russian oil and oil products by sea, purchasing 27 million metric tons in 2025.
“Türkiye is thus demonstrating that it is not a friend or ally of Ukraine; it is an ally of Russia,” he commented.
The expert also recalled that in April 2026, nearly half of Russian crude oil and oil products exports transited through the Baltic Sea, roughly 27 per cent through the Far East, and 19 per cent through the Black Sea.
Klymenko stressed that the Kremlin chief, Vladimir Putin, will continue his war until Russia runs out of its own funds.
“Only a military defeat of the modern Russian empire can make the region safe, at least for a time”, he highlighted.
The West is once again letting Ukraine down and giving Vladimir Putin the upper hand – at the most critical moment, Bloomberg columnist Marc Champion wrote.
He noted that battlefield news this year has generally been favourable for Kyiv. Moscow’s offensive has slowed, and its casualties have sharply increased. Equally important are Kyiv’s new long-range strike capabilities. Experts noted that the time had come to renew diplomatic efforts and secure a cease-fire, but this might have been feasible just a few weeks ago. At this stage, any attempt at negotiations seems highly unlikely, as Putin sees serious shifts in his favor.
You may also want to read: European, Japanese, and U.S. parts helped Russia build missiles that killed 24, including three children, in Kyiv – Zelenskyy
Kyiv has depleted its stockpile of Patriot interceptors — the only system available to Ukraine capable of consistently shooting down ballistic missiles — and Putin is exploiting this to intensify strikes on Ukrainian ports and cities.
This situation means being able to destroy Ukraine’s already shrunken capacity for power and heat generation faster than it can be restored this winter. And that, in turn, portends grid blackouts, life-threatening cold in city apartment blocks and potential new waves of mass migration at a time when the issue has become a political third rail in Europe.
Stay connected with us via X, BlueSky, and LinkedIn – and while you’re here, please spare five minutes to fill out our survey and tell us what you’d like to see next.
