On December 15, 2025, the Council of the European Union adopted Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/2594 and Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2588 to sanction five individuals and four entities that support Russia’s shadow fleet of oil tankers that serve as a substantial source of revenue for the Russian Government – revenues that Russia has used to fund its war against Ukraine. As a result of these designations, all of the listed parties are subject to asset freezes and travel bans in the European Union, and EU operators are forbidden from making funds available to them.
According to the Council, the newly-designated individuals are businessmen with links to Rosneft and Lukoil, two major Russian state-owned oil companies, that typically use irregular and high-risk shipping practices to conceal the actual origin of the oil. Among the designees are Murtaza Ali Lakhani, of Pakistan and Canada, and Etibar Eyyub, of Azerbaijan, two oil traders who were sanctioned for supporting the export and shipment of Russian oil from Rosneft. The Council reported that Lakhani, in particular, transported Russian crude oil and petroleum products using a variety of irregular shipping practices, including failures to maintain adequate liability insurance, engaging in unsafe operations, and shutting off vessels’ Automatic Identification Systems to avoid detection.
The Council indicated that the five designated entities are shipping companies based in United Arab Emirates, Vietnam and Russia that are part of Russia’s shadow fleet. According to the Council, the designees either own or manage tankers that are subject to EU sanctions or sanctions in other jurisdictions, that are used in the global transport of Russian crude oil or petroleum products.
Council of the EU Press Release | Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/2594 | Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2588