Archive · 7 Sep 2026
Putin’s Shadow Fleet Uses Fake Identities to Evade UK Seizures
Some oil ships connected to Russia are trying to hide from authorities.
They do this by changing the information sent by their tracking system.
A large tanker can temporarily pretend to be a small fishing boat.
The fishing boat then appears to be the tanker.
This can confuse people and computer systems watching ships.
Experts say the tracking system was made for safety many years ago, not for stopping sanctions evasion.
Britain seized a tanker called Smyrtos in June after it was allegedly carrying sanctioned Russian oil.
Other tankers have reportedly changed course to avoid areas where they might be stopped.
British officials say Russia uses this fleet to help fund its war in Ukraine.
Sanctioned Russian oil tankers are manipulating Automatic Identification System signals to disguise their identities and movements.
In an AIS “handshake,” a tanker and a smaller vessel exchange identifying information, causing authorities to misidentify both ships.
Experts said the decades-old maritime safety system was not designed to prevent modern sanctions evasion.
Russian-linked tankers have reportedly shifted routes around northern Scotland and west of Ireland after the UK seized Smyrtos.
British forces boarded Smyrtos in the English Channel on June 14 in the first UK-led operation of its kind.
- Who
- Russian-linked shadow fleet tankers, European authorities, British forces, and maritime security experts.
- What
- Sanctioned oil tankers are using manipulated AIS identities to evade detection and possible seizure.
- When
- The tactics are currently being used; Britain seized Smyrtos on June 14.
- Where
- The activity has been reported in and around the English Channel, northern Scotland, and west of Ireland.
- Why
- The tankers are attempting to disguise sanctioned Russian oil shipments and avoid enforcement action.
- Tracking system
- Automatic Identification System broadcasts a vessel’s identity, location, course, origin, and destination.
- Deception method
- An AIS “handshake” involves two vessels exchanging identifying information at sea.
- Seized tanker
- Smyrtos was boarded and seized while carrying sanctioned Russian oil.
- Seizure date
- The six-hour UK operation took place on June 14.
- Operation forces
- Royal Marine Commandos, National Crime Agency officers, aircraft, and Royal Navy ships supported the operation.
- Reported route change
- Some Russian-linked tankers have shifted routes around northern Scotland and west of Ireland.
- UK assessment
- The UK Ministry of Defence said Vladimir Putin relies on the shadow fleet to fund the war in Ukraine.