UK Fines London Firm $1.28M Over Jet Fuel Tied to Russian Military

The United Kingdom has fined a London-based trading firm $1.28 million for violating sanctions related to Russia’s war effort, after it was found to have indirectly facilitated the supply of jet fuel ultimately used by the Russian military.

The Gaze reports this, referring to an announcement made by the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI).

It was issued against Superservice Ltd following an intelligence-led investigation. The probe revealed that the company was involved in a transaction worth approximately $2.55 million in jet fuel, which was sold to a third-country buyer and later transferred to Russia.

OFSI concluded that the deal amounted to the “indirect supply of restricted goods” in breach of the UK’s sanctions regime, which bans the provision of military-related items to Russia, even through intermediary nations.

“This enforcement action demonstrates OFSI’s continued commitment to imposing penalties where breaches of financial sanctions occur,” the UK Treasury said in a statement. Officials noted that Superservice Ltd failed to voluntarily disclose the violation, which disqualified the firm from receiving a reduced fine.

The case is among the most substantial penalties imposed since London ramped up its enforcement of Russia-related sanctions following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Under current UK sanctions, the export of goods that could support Russia’s military capabilities, including fuels and dual-use technologies, is strictly prohibited, regardless of how many jurisdictions separate the initial seller from the end user.

As The Gaze reported earlier, on July 21, the UK imposed a new round of sanctions aimed squarely at Russia’s shadow fleet and its oil revenue stream, intensifying economic pressure on the Kremlin.