Russia accuses U.K. of plotting attacks on Moscow’s “shadow fleet” oil tankers

By zoeysky // 2025-08-05

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Russia's spy agency (SVR) claims British intelligence is plotting covert attacks on Moscow's "shadow fleet" of oil tankers, possibly with Ukrainian help. The goal, they allege, is to trigger NATO intervention by staging accidents or blocking key shipping routes.
To bypass Western sanctions, Russia uses old, poorly maintained tankers registered under obscure flags (like Comoros or Gabon). These ships operate outside normal regulations, raising environmental risks if they leak or sink.
The SVR suggests the West might sabotage a tanker to justify NATO action or fake an oil spill to label the fleet a safety hazard and seize more ships. Some analysts think Russia is preemptively blaming the West in case a real accident happens.
U.S. and EU sanctions (like price caps and insurance bans) have cut Russia's oil shipments by over half since early 2024. Some officials have debated more aggressive steps, like boarding suspicious ships, but legal issues have delayed action.
Russia is now escorting shadow fleet tankers with military jets, treating them as a security priority. Hardliners in Russia are calling for retaliation against British ships. Any major incident, real or staged, could escalate NATO-Russia tensions further.

Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has accused the United Kingdom of planning covert attacks on Moscow's so-called "shadow fleet" of oil tankers, an alleged network of aging vessels used to bypass Western sanctions on Russian crude. The SVR claims British intelligence is considering staging sabotage operations, possibly with Ukrainian involvement, to trigger NATO action against these ships. The allegations come as Western nations intensify efforts to restrict Russia's oil revenues, a key funding source for its war in Ukraine. The U.S. and EU have already imposed sanctions on the shadow fleet, leading to a sharp decline in Russian oil shipments. But Moscow now alleges that the West is preparing even more aggressive measures, including possible sabotage disguised as maritime accidents. Since Western sanctions targeted Russian oil exports, Moscow has relied on a network of older tankers, often registered under "flags of convenience" from countries like Comoros or Gabon. These vessels operate outside normal shipping regulations, making it harder for sanctions enforcers to track them. Experts warn that many of these ships are poorly maintained and could pose serious environmental risks if they leak or sink. Some ships have already been involved in mysterious explosions this year, with suspicion falling on Ukraine.

Russia's claims: Sabotage and false flags

According to a statement released on Aug. 4, the SVR accused British intelligence of plotting two possible scenarios:

Blocking a key shipping route – By damaging a tanker in a maritime bottleneck, the U.K. could create a crisis that justifies NATO intervention.
Staging a major fire – A sabotage attack at a port in a Russia-friendly country could be framed as an accident, allowing Western nations to declare the shadow fleet a safety hazard and restrict its movements.

The SVR framed the alleged plan as a desperate move by the U.K. to maintain influence at sea, accusing London of "crown-sanctioned piracy." The agency also suggested that the West might use an environmental disaster as a pretext to detain more Russian-linked tankers under international maritime law. Some analysts speculate that Russia may be preemptively shifting blame in case one of its own tankers suffers a real accident.

Western efforts to curb Russian oil revenues

The U.S. and EU have already imposed strict sanctions on Russian oil, including price caps and bans on insurance for tankers carrying Russian crude. According to the Brookings Institution, these measures have slashed the shadow fleet's oil shipments from over 50 million barrels per month to less than 20 million since early 2024. Some Western officials have reportedly considered more direct action, such as boarding and inspecting suspicious tankers, but legal concerns have stalled these plans. The SVR's report suggests that a major incident, like an oil spill, could provide the justification needed for such measures. The SVR claims that Ukrainian forces would carry out the alleged attacks to avoid direct Western blame. If exposed, Kyiv, rather than London or Washington, would take the political fallout. This mirrors past accusations, such as Russia's claims that the West orchestrated the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions, an incident initially blamed on Moscow before investigations pointed elsewhere.

A growing maritime standoff

Russia has already signaled its readiness to defend the shadow fleet, escorting tankers with military jets in what analysts see as an acknowledgment that these ships are now a national security priority. Meanwhile, hardliners in Russia have called for retaliation. Fighterbomber, a prominent pro-war blogger, suggested that British tankers should "suffer an accident" in response. (Related: Mike Adams and Mike Farris on navigating the uncharted future.) If the SVR's claims are true, or even if they're just a preemptive warning, the situation raises the risk of further maritime confrontations. A major incident, whether accidental or deliberate, could escalate tensions between NATO and Russia. For now, the West continues to tighten sanctions, while Moscow looks for ways to keep its oil flowing. Whether sabotage plots are real or imagined, the battle over Russia's shadow fleet is far from over. Visit Chaos.news for more updates on the Russia-Ukraine war. Watch the video below as Health Ranger Mike Adams talks about why Europe wants a high casualty war with Russia. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

CITIZENS NEWS

Russia's claims: Sabotage and false flags

Western efforts to curb Russian oil revenues

A growing maritime standoff

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