Ukrainian intelligence detects shadow fleet tankers: oil through Crimean ports

The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine has reported 31 more vessels of the so-called shadow fleet of Russia and Iran involved in the transportation of Russian oil and liquefied gas. Among them is the tanker TRUVOR, which transported fuel, in particular through the ports of the temporarily occupied Crimea.

This is evidenced by data from the War & Sanctions portal.

The chemical and oil tanker TRUVOR is flying the flag of Russia. According to Ukrainian intelligence, its crew periodically turns off the automatic identification system AIS, and the vessel has called at the ports of occupied Crimea and Kerch.

The agency noted that in November 2025, the tanker was moored in the port of Kerch. Despite the imposed oil embargo and the limitations on the maximum price of Russian oil and oil products, the ship continued to export fuel from Black Sea ports to third countries. In particular, in December 2024, TRUVOR exported oil products from the Sheskharis terminal in the port of Novorossiysk to Egypt. The shipowner is Trinity Shipping LLC from Russia.

In general, these vessels provide transportation of Russian energy carriers and generate critical export revenues for the Kremlin. The intelligence agency emphasizes that it is the profits from the sale of oil and gas that remain a key source of filling the Russian budget, financing the war against Ukraine and supporting the military-industrial complex.

The agency emphasized that as long as Russia receives billions of dollars in profits from energy exports, it retains resources to continue its aggression and destabilize the situation in Europe. That is why Ukraine's international partners are urged to increase sanctions pressure on the Russian energy sector.

In early January, the United States seized a sanctioned tanker that had changed its flag to Russian while underway. Most of the Ukrainians on board were from Odesa and Kherson regions. Journalists found 12 Ukrainians on board and talked to several of them. They told how they got on the ship and about the company that hired the crew. The company has ties to a former Odesa deputy who holds a Russian passport.

Анна Літман