A Russian-linked oil tanker, part of Moscow’s so-called “shadow fleet,” was damaged in an explosion in the Mediterranean Sea on June 27, Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) reported.
Between 2023 and 2024, Moscow assembled a covert fleet to evade Western-imposed measures, including the EU’s $60-per-barrel oil price cap introduced in December 2022. The shadow fleet is used to export crude oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and other energy products while skirting sanctions.
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According to the HUR’s statement on Telegram, the explosion occurred in the engine room of the Vilamoura tanker, approximately 150 kilometers (94 miles) northeast of the Libyan coast.
The vessel, sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands, built in 2011 by South Korea’s Samsung Shipbuilding Heavy Industries, was believed to be carrying at least 1 million barrels of crude oil.
Ukrainian intelligence reported that Vilamoura has repeatedly transported oil products from Russian ports. In April 2025, the tanker was recorded at the Ust-Luga terminal, and in May it was spotted near Novorossiysk.
It was reported that on July 1, the damaged vessel was being towed by the Maltese-flagged firefighting tug Boka Summit toward the Laconian Gulf in Greece for inspection and damage assessment.
The Vilamoura is owned by the Greek shipping company TMS Tanker Limited, based in Marousi, HUR reported.
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The explosion was not reported until June 30. Consulting firm Vanguard Tech stated it’s the fifth such incident this year involving tankers that had previously docked at Russian ports. Following the explosions, shipowners have begun deploying divers and underwater drones to inspect hulls for mines and sabotage devices.
According to HUR, by June 2025, the Russian “shadow fleet,” used to secretly export Russian oil and petroleum products, was made up of almost 1,000 mostly outdated vessels, with a combined deadweight exceeding 100 million tons.
Australia imposed sanctions on the“shadow fleet” for the first time, targeting 60 vessels used to help Moscow bypass international restrictions, Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced on June 18.
According to a government statement, these tankers are being used by Russia to circumvent global sanctions and support its ongoing war against Ukraine.
The Australian government added that the ships operate deceptively, frequently changing national flags, disabling tracking systems, and sailing with inadequate insurance. These tactics allow for the continued illicit trade of Russian oil and other restricted goods.
The UK introduced similar sanctions on June 17, adding 20 vessels to its blacklist and targeting 10 individuals and entities connected to Russia’s energy and shipping sectors.
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