US to Consider Easing Sanctions on Russia’s Shadow Fleet

The administration of US President Donald Trump will consider easing sanctions on tankers belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet. Reuters reports this.

Washington hopes the move will increase the availability of maritime shipping and bring downfreight rates, which have reached record highs.

The proposed easing would allow tankers previously placed under sanctions to transport oil that is not subject to sanctions.

This would not mean lifting sanctions on Russian or Iranian oil. Instead, the tankers would be allowed to carry oil that is legally permitted to be traded.

The US administration aims to increase shipments of crude oil and petroleum products from the Persian Gulf. The war in the Middle East and disruptions to shipping in the region have caused maritime freight rates to surge, making it more difficult to supply global energy markets.

Companies wishing to use these tankers will have to submit applications to the US Department of the Treasury.

Discussion of the initiative comes shortly after Donald Trump temporarily eased sanctions on Russian diesel fuel.

Shadow fleet tankers are used to transport oil and petroleum products from Russia, Iran and Venezuela. They help circumvent Western sanctions through opaque ownership structures, questionable insurance arrangements or registration under the flags of third countries.

Despite these measures, the United States continues to strike vessels linked to the shadow fleet. On October 10, 2026, aUS fighter jet attacked the cargo vessel M/V Ocean Molica, also known as Arika Sun, in the Gulf of Oman.

The strike was carried out after the crew ignored repeated warnings and attempted to breach the naval blockade of Iran.

Militarnyi previously reported that US Coast Guard specialists had revealed the technical methods used by shadow fleet vessels to conceal their activities.