Ukraine Unveils Plan to Target Russia’s Shadow Fleet with Expanded Sanctions
Ukraine has proposed a sweeping new package of sanctions designed to intensify economic pressure on Russia, including measures against more than 400 vessels in Moscow’s so-called “shadow fleet” and tougher restrictions on oil trade.
The Gaze reports this, referring to a post by Andrii Yermak, head of the Ukrainian President’s Office.
He announced the initiative on September 16, saying that the sanctions group has finalized Working Document No. 23 – a comprehensive strategy that outlines the next wave of international restrictions against the Kremlin.
The plan specifically calls for extending sanctions to more than 400 ships that Russia uses to circumvent Western restrictions on energy exports.
It also proposes lowering and regularly adjusting price caps on Russian oil and premium-grade petroleum products to squeeze Moscow’s revenues further.
In addition, the document outlines secondary sanctions and port embargoes targeting companies, ports, and countries that assist Russia in evading existing restrictions.
According to Yermak, the initiative also prioritizes closing loopholes in export controls for critical technologies, particularly those flowing through third countries.
The plan envisions the use of frozen Russian assets to benefit Ukraine, aligning with Kyiv’s push for more aggressive international measures against Moscow.
“This document represents a clear roadmap for the next wave of sanctions – and it is ready for implementation,” Yermak said, stressing that Ukraine needs to move from piecemeal action to “systemic and aggressive economic pressure” on Russia.
Yermak noted that many recommendations from earlier working papers were eventually adopted by Ukraine’s international partners and became part of sanctions packages already in force. Kyiv hopes this new plan will once again shape the Western approach to constraining Russia’s wartime economy.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently acknowledged that Washington is reviewing which sanctions could be imposed on Moscow, though he stressed that President Donald Trump will make the final decision on any new measures.
As The Gaze reported earlier, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Congress is prepared to move forward with new sanctions against Russia, emphasizing that lawmakers are willing to work with the White House and Senate to advance measures aimed at ending the Russian-Ukrainian war.