The Shadow Fleet Fueling Russia’s War

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2023 has sparked international condemnation and sanctions, but also raised questions about how the Kremlin is able to sustain its military operations in the face of economic isolation and logistical challenges. One of the key factors behind Russia’s war machine is a shadowy network of ships that transport fuel, weapons, and supplies to its forces in the region, often evading detection and scrutiny by using deceptive practices and false identities.

Bloomberg Investigates, a series that takes viewers on an immersive journey to the heart of the most powerful reporting by Bloomberg journalists, has uncovered the details of this clandestine fleet and its role in fueling Russia’s war. In a recent episode, titled “Run For Your Life”, Bloomberg reporters tracked down some of the vessels involved in the scheme and exposed their links to Russian state-owned companies, sanctioned individuals, and entities connected to the Kremlin’s security apparatus.

The episode reveals how some of the ships operate under flags of convenience, such as Liberia or Panama, to avoid scrutiny and sanctions, while others use transponders to broadcast false or misleading information about their identity, location, or destination. Some of the ships also engage in ship-to-ship transfers, a practice that involves transferring cargo from one vessel to another at sea, often in violation of international law and regulations.

One of the ships that Bloomberg Investigates identified as part of the shadow fleet is the MT Krasnodar, a tanker that has been transporting fuel from Russia to Syria, where it is used to support the Assad regime and its allies, including Iran-backed militias and Hezbollah. The MT Krasnodar is owned by a company called Transpetrochart, which is linked to a Russian tycoon named Gennady Timchenko, who is a close associate of President Vladimir Putin and has been sanctioned by the US and the EU for his role in the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Another ship that Bloomberg Investigates tracked down is the MV Ocean Glory, a cargo vessel that has been delivering weapons and ammunition from Russia to Syria, where they are used by the Syrian army and its allies to fight the rebels and the Islamic State. The MV Ocean Glory is owned by a company called Oboronlogistika, which is a subsidiary of the Russian Ministry of Defense and has been sanctioned by the US for its involvement in the Syrian conflict.

Bloomberg Investigates also uncovered how some of the ships involved in the shadow fleet have been using a technique called “spoofing” to deceive authorities and avoid detection. Spoofing involves broadcasting a false signal that mimics the identity and location of another ship, creating confusion and potentially endangering other vessels in the area. For example, Bloomberg Investigates found that the MV Ocean Glory had been spoofing the signal of a Turkish cargo ship called the MV Ceylan, making it appear as if the Turkish ship was in the Mediterranean Sea, when in fact it was thousands of miles away in the Indian Ocean.

The episode also reveals how some of the ships involved in the shadow fleet have been involved in accidents, incidents, and violations that have endangered the lives and livelihoods of people in the region. For example, Bloomberg Investigates reported that the MT Krasnodar had been involved in a collision with a fishing boat in the Black Sea in 2021, killing three Turkish fishermen and injuring four others. The MT Krasnodar did not stop to help the survivors and fled the scene, according to the Turkish authorities.

The MV Ocean Glory had been detained by the Egyptian authorities in 2020 for carrying undeclared weapons and explosives, which were hidden under bags of wheat. The ship was released after paying a fine, but the incident raised concerns about the security and safety of the Suez Canal, one of the world’s most important waterways.

The episode concludes by highlighting the implications and consequences of the shadow fleet’s activities for the region and the world. By providing fuel, weapons, and supplies to Russia’s forces and allies in the region, the shadow fleet is enabling and prolonging the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, which have claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions of people. This shadow fleet is also undermining the efforts of the international community to impose sanctions and pressure on Russia to end its aggression and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbors.