The Russian Federation is conducting illegal oil transfers in the Mediterranean waters, using uninsured tankers and circumventing international sanctions.

This is reported by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

Since July 2024, tanker IMO 9247443 has been engaging in illegal oil transfer operations between vessels in international waters near Greece and Cyprus without Western insurance.

The agency emphasizes that such actions are opaque, threaten ecological safety, and allow evasion of sanction controls.

According to the intelligence agency, this tanker serves as a floating hub for supplying Russian oil that is under sanctions. The War&Sanctions portal has published details about 577 vessels, of which 159 are active participants in Russia's "shadow fleet", along with the names of 55 captains.

Russia frequently employs tactics such as turning off AIS, conducting nighttime STS operations, spoofing navigation data, and registering shell companies. Tanker operations often take place at night without lighting and insurance, which increases the risk of major accidents.