Ukraine's intelligence exposes 20 Russian shadow-fleet vessels, including gas carriers bought via shell firms

What was published

Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence (HUR) has published data on 20 vessels that export Russian oil, petroleum products and liquefied natural gas (LNG) or refuel the sanctioned fleet. “These vessels are elements of a logistics network the Kremlin uses to earn revenue to finance its genocidal war against Ukraine,” HUR said.

According to the intelligence service, all of them are already under UK or Ukrainian sanctions. HUR publishes such data as part of its shadow-fleet project so that partners can synchronise restrictions.

Gazprom’s floating storage heads to China

Among the key vessels is the Russian ship PORTOVYY (IMO 9246621), designed to transport and store LNG. Since 2021 it has belonged to sanctioned Gazprom and served as floating gas storage at the Portovaya complex in the Leningrad region.

“On 15 August 2026, PORTOVYY, carrying Russian LNG, left the Gulf of Finland for the first time since November 2021,” HUR said. Via the Northern Sea Route the tanker reached China’s Beihai port to unload, and it is now at the Zhoushan Huafeng Shipyard on Zhoushan island for maintenance.

Gas carriers bought in spring 2026

The intelligence service also exposed two new members of the shadow gas-carrier fleet, which, according to HUR, Russia hastily bought around the world in spring 2026 through front companies.

The gas carrier AVACHA (IMO 9319404) previously belonged to China’s Jovo Energy but was bought by the little-known Tudor Maritime Ltd of the Marshall Islands. Since June it has sailed under the Russian flag, managed by the newly created Krioline Management LLC. Since August it has carried gas from the Utrenniy terminal of the sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project to Beihai.

The gas carrier CHAIVO previously belonged to Greece’s Maran Gas Maritime and was also bought by Tudor Maritime Ltd. Since July it has flown the Russian flag under the same manager, and since August it has carried cargo to Beihai from the sanctioned floating storage unit KORYAK FSU.

What HUR is asking for

HUR urged partners to tighten control over sales of vessels owned by commercial entities and to decisively cut off Russia’s energy revenues. “Every Russian tanker carrying sanctioned oil or gas is a legitimate target for international sanctions pressure,” the agency said.

Why it matters now

The publication comes as the US has suspended sanctions on Russian diesel. European leaders are sending the opposite signal: Kaja Kallas promised that Europe will not ease pressure and that EU ministers will on Monday adopt the largest sanctions list since the war began. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal recalled that “innocent people are killed with the money earned from gas and fuel”. The shadow fleet is one of the main ways Moscow circumvents these restrictions.