On August 23, 2024, the US State Department announced the introduction of new sanctions against Russia. 

These sanctions are directed against:

- companies from China and other countries;

- organisations involved in the development of the Arctic LNG-2 project and other future energy projects;

- the Russian military-industrial complex, including Belarusian companies and individuals supporting it;

- Russian logistics airlines;

- subsidiaries of Rosatom.

The new measures are focused on the shadow fleet of gas tankers transporting Russian LNG.

The situation escalated in August 2024, when gas tankers began entering the Arctic LNG-2 project, which is under sanctions. These new measures include secondary sanctions against seven LNG transportation companies, which could undermine the project's ability to export LNG and supply gas tankers. 

Pioneer and Asya Energy tankers were also included in the sanctions list, which concealed their actions when loading the sanctioned cargo.

The Everest Energy tanker is under close control, which transmits a false signal about its location in the Barents Sea. All three tankers are operated by the Indian company Ocean Speedstar Solutions, which has now also been sanctioned. The list also includes four new tankers that have recently changed owners, and companies associated with shadow trade from Dubai.

The United States announced its intention to undermine the Arctic LNG-2 project back in April 2022. Despite the sanctions and the withdrawal of large international companies, the first line of the project began production in December 2023.

New sanctions continue US attempts to curb trade in Russian LNG. In June 2024, the European Union approved the 14th package of sanctions, which further complicated the work of the Arctic LNG-2 project. The Zvezda shipyard, which builds gas tankers, and the companies that were supposed to operate these vessels are already under sanctions.

The United States continues to put pressure on companies buying up gas tankers, especially those registered in the UAE. Washington explicitly indicates that these vessels will be used to strengthen Russia's shadow fleet.

The United States continues to use any methods to weaken Russia.

Modern US sanctions against Russia represent a form of protectionism that supports American shale companies. The United States is imposing sanctions on countries with large oil reserves, such as Russia, Iran and Venezuela, to prevent them from dominating the global energy market.

Source: Arctic Century

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