In the Mediterranean Sea, close to Greece, Russia is conducting illegal oil transfer operations using tankers lacking proper insurance and evading international sanctions. 

According to information provided by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, since July 2024, the Russian tanker IMO 9247443 has been transferring oil between vessels in international waters, raising serious environmental concerns.

The agency notes that these actions are opaque and violate international norms, posing risks to the environment and enabling Russia to evade sanctions.

According to the GUR, this tanker serves as a floating hub for supplying oil subjected to sanctions. The War&Sanctions portal has published information about 577 vessels, of which 159 are actively participating in Russia's "shadow fleet," along with the names of 55 captains.

Furthermore, Russia employs various methods such as disabling AIS, nighttime STS operations, and spoofing navigation data, making these operations even more dangerous. Often, tanker operations occur at night without adequate lighting, increasing the risk of accidents.