To coincide with the recent G7 meeting, the UK Government announced a new sanctions package on 16 June 2026 targeting Russia’s war economy across multiple fronts, including maritime transport, energy exports and sanctions circumvention networks. 

The package places a clear emphasis on Russia’s so called “shadow fleet”, with the UK Government stating that it is directly targeting vessels used to transport Russian oil to third countries as part of efforts to evade existing sanctions. This includes the designation of more than 20 vessels. 

These measures are supported by recently strengthened powers, enabling the UK to more actively identify and act against such vessels, indicating a shift towards more direct intervention in maritime activity linked to sanctions evasion. 

The maritime scope of this most recent package extends into the liquefied natural gas sector, with the UK designating vessels associated with the Arctic LNG 2 project, marking a further effort to constrain revenue derived from seaborne energy exports. 

In parallel, the measures target the supporting ecosystem facilitating these trades. This includes sanctions on ship insurers and other maritime service providers, reflecting a continued focus on the service layer underpinning maritime transport and efforts to disrupt the networks enabling Russian oil exports. 

The designation list also includes entities connected to Russia’s transport and logistics sectors, including those acting on behalf of individuals or organisations operating within that sector, reinforcing the UK’s approach of targeting both physical assets and the broader networks supporting maritime activity. 

Taken together, the UK Government’s materials indicate that the maritime component of the package is structured around vessel designations, the targeting of LNG and crude oil transport, and action against the service providers and entities enabling Russia’s seaborne energy trade. 

As set out by the Prime Minister:

“These sanctions target the vessels, the money and the actors propping up Russia’s war economy, and in turn, threatening European security.” 

• UK clamps down on shady networks supplying Putin’s illegal war with new sanctions package

• List of Russia sanctions designations, 16 June 2026

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