Albania denies entry to tanker linked to Russian shadow fleet

Albania denied entry to the tanker Hanuman at the port of Durres on August 29, according to reports from the Ukrainian military intelligence service, HUR. The vessel is identified as part of the Russian ‘shadow fleet’ used to bypass international sanctions.

HUR claims the tanker is linked to Gennady Timchenko, a close associate of Vladimir Putin. Since the beginning of 2025, the Hanuman has reportedly exported at least 452,000 tons of Russian fuel, traveling routes from Novorossiysk to Turkey, Senegal, the United Arab Emirates, and transshipment zones near Augusta, Italy.

The logistics for these voyages were provided by Altoprae Marine, a company based in Novorossiysk. Intelligence services state that the company is managed by an individual connected to Timchenko. The use of such vessels is intended to help the Kremlin redirect oil revenues to finance its military operations.