Britain's Largest Sanctions Package Against Russia's 'Shadow Fleet'

David Lammy, the British Foreign Secretary, stated on Monday, December 5, that his country is imposing its 'largest' sanctions package against Russia's 'shadow fleet' consisting of 30 ships. According to Lammy, the 'shadow fleet' operates in circumventing Western oil sanctions against Moscow. The British Foreign Secretary said London is determined to harm the mentioned ships and their owners who violate British and EU sanctions. He also urged Britain's allies in the G7 to continue supporting and equipping Ukraine for as long as necessary. Britain and other Western countries want to ensure that Ukraine is in the best possible condition to defend itself against Russian occupiers during the upcoming winter. Speaking before a meeting with his G7 counterparts in Italy, the British Foreign Secretary expressed confidence that Ukraine will receive the financial and military assistance needed to get through the next calendar year. He noted that British assessments indicate that Putin has shown 'no signs of willingness to negotiate' to end the war against Ukraine. The British government announced that the sanctioned ships have transported billions of pounds worth of oil and petroleum products over the past year. With the addition of the 30 newly sanctioned ships, the total number of tankers sanctioned by Britain has risen to 73. The British government also imposed sanctions on two Russian insurance companies, promising to continue challenging the ships regarding their insurance credentials when passing through British waters. This new sanctions package against Russia comes exactly one week after the EU and UK sanctions against the aviation and shipping industries of the Islamic Republic due to the Iranian government's support for Russia, which the Islamic Republic called 'unjustified.' Additionally, the U.S. and its allies have imposed dozens of sanctions packages against Russia in response to its military aggression against Ukraine, pledging comprehensive military, financial, and political support for Ukraine until the end of Putin's occupation. Western countries have also imposed sanctions against individuals and entities involved in the formation and expansion of military ties between Iran and Russia in response to Iran's military support for Russia's aggression. The U.S. sanctioned 400 individuals and entities for supporting Russia's aggression against Ukraine, while the EU is sanctioning individuals and entities related to the transfer of ballistic missiles from the Islamic Republic to Russia. Russia has attacked Kyiv with 'Iranian-made attack drones.' The U.S. has sanctioned networks of 'covert payments' between Russia and North Korea. The G7 condemned the transfer of ballistic missiles from the Iranian government to Russia. The U.S. sanctioned Russian state media for covert fundraising operations for Moscow's soldiers in the war against Ukraine. Ukraine reported that Russia has launched over 8,000 'Shahed' drones since the beginning of the war. The delivery of hundreds of Iranian 'Fateh 360' missiles to Russia has been described by the U.S. as a 'very destabilizing' development.