Media: European and American shipowners made billions selling tankers to Russia

Shipowners from the EU and the USA have earned $6 billion by selling tankers to third countries, which were then used to transport Russian oil, reports NewsBox.

According to an investigation by a consortium of European media, led by Dutch publication Follow the Money and published in The Guardian, shipowners from the USA and the European Union sold at least 230 tankers to companies associated with Russia. These transactions brought them around $6 billion.

Journalists estimate that Russia's shadow fleet now consists of about 600 vessels, which transport 70% of the country's oil exports.

The sale of tankers to third countries enabled Russian companies to circumvent sanctions and continue exporting oil. The investigation highlights that the buyers were companies affiliated with Russia, registered in various jurisdictions.