Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence Directorate has released information on 20 seagoing vessels that export Russian crude oil, petroleum products and liquefied natural gas, and also refuel sanctioned ships.
According to the GUR, these vessels are part of a logistics network that Russia uses to generate revenue from energy exports.
All 20 vessels are under UK or Ukrainian sanctions, with one also under US sanctions.
Among them is the Russian gas carrier PORTOVYY (IMO 9246621), owned by the sanctioned company Gazprom since 2021. It is used as a floating gas storage facility within the Portovaya complex in the Leningrad region.
On 15 August 2026, the vessel carrying Russian liquefied natural gas left the waters of the Gulf of Finland for the first time since November 2021. Via the Northern Sea Route, it reached the Chinese port of Beihai to unload. At present, according to the GUR, the gas carrier is at the Zhoushan Huafeng Shipyard on Zhoushan Island.
Intelligence also reported two gas carriers that joined Russia’s shadow fleet in spring 2026.
AVACHA (IMO 9319404) – previously belonged to the Chinese company Jovo Energy. In spring 2026, it was purchased by Tudor Maritime Ltd of the Marshall Islands. Since June, the vessel has been sailing under the Russian flag and, since August, according to the GUR, has been transporting gas from the Utrenny terminal of the Arctic LNG 2 project to the Chinese port of Beihai.
CHAIVO – previously belonged to the Greek company Maran Gas Maritime, after which it was also acquired by Tudor Maritime Ltd. In July 2026, the vessel switched to the Russian flag. Since August, it has been transporting gas to Beihai from the KORYAK FSU floating storage facility near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
According to intelligence, both gas carriers are managed by the Russian company Kryoline Management.
Ukrainian military intelligence urged international partners to tighten oversight of vessel sales, block the ability to service the sanctioned fleet at foreign shipyards, and cut off Russia’s sources of income from energy exports.
Details of the vessels were published on the War&Sanctions portal at this link.