Ukraine urges IMO to warn ships aiding Russia's shadow fleet

Ukraine's deputy prime minister for reconstruction, Oleksiy Kuleba, sent a letter to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) calling on member states to issue warnings to vessels that call at closed Black Sea ports in occupied Ukraine and transport oil and other petroleum products for Russia. The letter alleges that such ships – described as part of Russia's "shadow fleet" – directly fund the war and may not be mere commercial operations, stating that "legitimate questions arise as to whether the activities of such vessels can be regarded solely as ordinary commercial operations, separate from support for the military efforts of the Russian Federation."

Kuleba details an accelerated pace of attacks on Russian‑linked vessels in 2026, reporting 59 commercial ships hit since the start of the year, with 24 attacks in April, 14 in May and 11 in June. Notable incidents include the Panama‑flagged bulk carrier Victress, struck on 22 June, which caught fire, killed the ship's cook and was rendered unseaworthy, and the bulker Helga, hit the following day while loading corn for export. The letter also cites damage to port infrastructure and civilian casualties, and accuses Russia of "blatant disregard for fundamental principles of international humanitarian law." The Financial Times reported that the letter could broaden justification for Ukraine’s strikes on the shadow fleet.