On February 24, 2026 – the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine – the United Kingdom announced its most extensive package of sanctions against Russia to date. 48 tankers from the shadow fleet are affected.
In contrast to the EU, whose 20th sanctions package was blocked by vetoes from Hungary and Slovakia, London is pushing through independently and decisively.
The British measures include around 300 new sanctions against Russian energy infrastructure, including the oil pipeline operator Transneft (responsible for over 80% of Russian oil exports) and 175 companies in the “2Rivers” network – one of the largest shadow fleet operators for Russian crude oil.
These are supplemented by sanctions against 48 oil tankers, 49 arms suppliers, nine banks and civilian nuclear companies. The aim is to strangle Moscow’s war funding, as Russian energy revenues have already fallen by 27% to their lowest level since 2020.
While the EU is aiming for its 20th package, it is failing due to internal disunity. The UK is acting independently and more aggressively, focusing on maritime shadow fleets, and demonstrating resolve in starving Russian war revenues.
Revenues fall to an all-time low
The Finland-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) has been analyzing Russian energy exports since the beginning of the full-scale attack on Ukraine. It has come to the conclusion that these exports have fallen to an all-time low in the past month.
Russia’s monthly revenues from fossil fuel exports fell by 3% to €464 million per day in January 2026. According to CREA, this figure is the lowest since the full invasion of Ukraine.
