LONDON, December 17. /TASS/. The UK has expanded its sanctions list for Russia, adding 20 vessels and two companies. An updated version of the document was published on the UK government's website.

The sanctions targeted Dubai-based companies 2Rivers DMCC (formerly Coral Energy) and 2Rivers PTE, which specialize in energy trading. The British authorities explain the inclusion of these companies on the sanctions list by the fact that they were allegedly engaged in benefiting from supporting the Russian government, namely the Russian energy sector.

According to the document, the sanctions "target 20 shadow fleet ships carrying illicit Russian oil, including Ocean Faye, Andaman Skies and Mianzimu, which have each carried more than four million barrels of Russian oil in 2024." The British government believes that this activity leads to destabilization of Ukraine, undermining its territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence.

The Prime Minister's Office believes that by expanding the sanction list London has dealt a new blow to the so-called shadow fleet of Russia, and expects that this will affect Moscow's ability to finance its special military operation in Ukraine. It is also indicated that the United Kingdom, together with Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Estonia, will counter the "shadow fleet" in the Baltic Sea.

By now, the UK anti-Russian sanctions list includes 380 legal entities. The number of vessels subject to sanctions has increased to 110, of which 93 are tankers. All vessels on the blacklist are banned from entering UK ports under threat of detention, they will be denied registration in the UK ship register, and their current registration, if applicable, may be terminated.