{"text":[[{"start":6.8,"text":"Ukraine has argued that Russian shadow fleet ships could be seen as military assets in an effort to legitimise its increasing attacks on vessels transporting Russian fuels."}],[{"start":16.85,"text":"In a letter sent to the International Maritime Organization on June 26 and seen by the FT, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister Oleksiy Kuleba said that “legitimate questions arise as to whether the activities of such vessels can be regarded solely as ordinary commercial operations”."}],[{"start":35.8,"text":"Ukraine is estimated to have struck about a dozen shadow fleet vessels last year — ships under sanctions that typically transport Russian cargoes — and says Russia has hit more than 200 commercial vessels since the war began in 2022. "}],[{"start":49.55,"text":"Moscow had accused Kyiv of “terrorism” in a letter to the IMO in early June, over an attack on Russian-flagged LNG tanker Arctic Metagaz in the Mediterranean in March."}],[{"start":61.349999999999994,"text":"But Kuleba argued Russian oil and gas carriers were “critical to the generation of budget revenues for the Russian Federation and the continuation of its war effort”. His letter was first reported by Lloyd’s List."}],[{"start":75.6,"text":"Both sides’ attacks in the Black Sea have surged in recent months."}],[{"start":79.89999999999999,"text":"Ukraine struck the Russian port of Kavkaz earlier this month and Tuapse in May, while Russia has continued its attacks on the major Ukrainian port of Odesa as well as the ports of Chornomorsk and Yuzhny."}],[{"start":92.1,"text":"Kuleba said in the letter that Russia had attacked 59 merchant vessels, including Turkish cargo ship the MV Victress and the German-owned Helga, which was carrying 25,000 tonnes of corn to Chornomorsk."}],[{"start":105.89999999999999,"text":"The Victress was rendered unseaworthy after a major fire broke out on the ship’s bridge, the letter said. The Helga also suffered fire damage."}],[{"start":115.3,"text":"“These attacks constitute further evidence of the Russian Federation’s blatant disregard for international humanitarian law, the laws governing naval warfare, and the safety of merchant shipping,” Kuleba wrote."}],[{"start":127.2,"text":"Russia said in its letter a fire resulting from the strike on the Arctic Metagaz, which was carrying Russian fuel to China, sent the vessel “out of control” and forced the crew to abandon ship."}],[{"start":139.6,"text":"Since the March attack, no Russian-flagged LNG tanker has sailed through the Mediterranean, instead choosing to go around the Cape of Good Hope, according to maritime intelligence company Windward."}],[{"start":150.35,"text":"European countries have also stepped up efforts to crack down on so-called shadow fleet ships, which often operate under false flags or without recognised western insurance or paperwork."}],[{"start":160.7,"text":"Shipbrokers estimate that the global shadow fleet, which also serves Iran and Venezuela, has steadily grown under tightening sanctions on Moscow and Tehran to more than 1,500 tankers. "}],[{"start":173.04999999999998,"text":"These vessels take advantage of the fact that states are not allowed to board or stop a ship that is properly flagged — meaning that another state has accepted responsibility for it. However, a ship can be boarded where there are reasonable grounds to suspect the vessel is without nationality. "}],[{"start":189.7,"text":"Ukraine’s allies in the EU and the UK have been pressuring flag registries, such as Barbados, Panama and Cameroon, to deregister shadow fleet ships, which would allow them to then be boarded."}],[{"start":202.39999999999998,"text":"The UK seized one shadow fleet tanker with Russian cargo in the English Channel on June 14, while France also intercepted a Russian shadow fleet ship in the Mediterranean last week."}],[{"start":219.34999999999997,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1782875857_6026.mp3"}