India carries out first operation against Russia's shadow fleet
Illustrative photo: India seized three sanctioned oil tankers (GettyImages)
India’s Coast Guard detained three oil tankers linked to smuggling as part of its first operation targeting Russia’s shadow fleet, Bloomberg reports.
Read also: Greece and Malta block new EU oil sanctions on Russia — Bloomberg
The tankers were seized last week, on February 6, in waters off Mumbai. India’s Coast Guard said it had "busted an international oil-smuggling racket," noting that the vessels "frequently change identity."
Sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg it was the first time India has taken such action. The operation comes amid stepped-up efforts by the United States and Europe to crack down on ships transporting sanctioned oil.
The Coast Guard did not disclose the names of the detained tankers, but they are believed to be Chiltern, Asphalt Star, and Stellar Ruby. All three vessels were sanctioned by the United States in 2025 over links to Iran’s oil trade.
Previously, India said it would not allow sanctioned tankers to unload at its ports.
Crackdown on Russia’s shadow fleet
Russia’s so-called shadow fleet is a network of aging tankers and shell companies used by Russia to evade sanctions. These vessels often change destinations, switch off transponders, and list fictitious ports to conceal the real buyers of Russian oil.
Recently, at least eight sanctioned oil tankers passed through the English Channel despite the British government’s declared effort to combat the shadow fleet.
The EU’s upcoming package of anti-Russian sanctions is expected to target and block the shadow fleet, which allows Moscow to continue earning oil revenues.
Shadow-fleet tankers are increasingly listing Singapore as their official destination, signaling shifts in export routes and attempts to hide end buyers amid Western sanctions.
