The Shadow Fleet’s Global Footprint
Leaked shipment data tied to the global shadow fleet shows a massive and sophisticated network enabling Russian oil to reach dozens of countries despite Western sanctions. While much public focus has centered on trade with India and China, the new data paints a far more expansive picture — showing illegal oil shipments arriving in at least 38 countries, with a handful of front companies linked to the busiest ports.
At the heart of the operation is a fleet of "dark" tankers: vessels that frequently disable transponders, reflag under shell jurisdictions, and change ownership mid-voyage. This shadow fleet has been crucial in keeping Russian oil flowing since sanctions were imposed following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The leaked spreadsheet reveals that these ships made thousands of deliveries worldwide — with India (795), Turkey (442), and China (387) emerging as the top three recipients.
Global Distribution of Illegal Shipments
The shadow fleet's reach spans six continents, touching not only Asia and Europe but also Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. Below is a summary of the number of shipments received per country:
High-volume recipients:
India: 795
Turkey: 442
China: 387
Greece: 138
Singapore: 103
UAE: 77
South Korea: 50
Brazil: 43
Saudi Arabia: 34
Tunisia, Malaysia, Malta, Nigeria: 20–30 range
Moderate to low-volume recipients:
Countries like Egypt, Togo, Italy, Ghana, Belgium, Morocco, Germany, and Israel received between 4 and 12 shipments each.
Occasional recipients (1–2 shipments):
France, Oman, Senegal, Taiwan, South Africa, Brunei, Indonesia, Panama, Libya, and others.
Total affected countries: 38
The shadow fleet activity was most concentrated at five key ports — critical transit hubs for sanctioned oil:
Port:
Aliaga , Turkey - 296 shipments
Vadinar Terminal, India - 155 shipments
OPL Kalamata Greece - 132 shipments
Singapore (various) - 103 shipments
Sikka, India - 101 shipments
These ports appear to have functioned as logistical anchors — receiving the largest share of flagged shipments and in some cases acting as staging areas for further transshipment or blending. The main companies shipping to these ports were: - Bellatrix Energy Limited, Voliton DMCC, and Blackford Corporation Limited.
- Bellatrix Energy Limited - based in Hong Kong, Bellatrix was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in December 2023 under Executive Order 14024.
- Voliton DMCC - a UAE-based firm, Voliton was also sanctioned in December 2023, cited for handling a substantial volume of Russian oil in violation of price caps. Sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in December 2023 under Executive Order 14024.
- Blackford Corporation Limited - not currently sanctioned, but was named in a Times of India investigation and is referenced repeatedly in the shipment data. Despite the volume of its involvement, it remains under the radar of formal sanctions enforcement — possibly due to opaque ownership and limited Western exposure.
This data sheds light on serious gaps in current sanctions enforcement:
- Nearly 800 shipments to India alone, despite the G7 price cap and EU shipping bans.
- Over 1,800 total flagged shipments across the dataset, with many routed through just five key global ports.
- 38 recipient countries, including EU members and U.S. allies, receiving shipments likely in violation of international sanctions.
While Bellatrix and Voliton are now designated, many vessels and newer entities like Blackford remain active and unimpeded. The findings suggest a cat-and-mouse game in which old companies are sanctioned only for new, unlisted actors to take their place.
Conclusion:
The shadow fleet has become a vast, well-organized ecosystem — one that now touches almost every region of the globe. Unless authorities accelerate enforcement and target new players like Blackford Corporation, these oil flows will continue undermining the goals of the sanctions regime — enabling the Kremlin to maintain vital revenue streams despite international isolation.
