On June 16, 2025, the British government imposed another package of sanctions against Russia — 70 new items covering 43 individuals and legal entities, as well as 27 vessels. Formally — another "package." In essence — three separate operations sewn into one decision.
A Fleet That Officially Doesn't Exist
The central target — shadow fleet vessels. Among them — over 20 oil tankers and several liquefied gas carriers; Britain became the first G7 country to impose sanctions against ships linked to the Arctic LNG 2 project.
As of today, Britain has added over 600 shadow fleet and Russian LNG tankers to its sanctions lists. Meanwhile, in 2025, the Arctic LNG-2 terminal exported only 1.3 million tons of LNG — against a project capacity of over 13.5 million tons per year. This is no coincidence: it is precisely the sanctions pressure on the fleet and insurance companies that has blocked the project's logistics.
Banks: From Yandex to Wildberries
Along with vessels, restrictions were placed on the insurer "Rosgosstrakh," Evofinance Mosnarbank, Wildberries Bank — and Yandex Bank, which the British side linked to a network of financial intermediaries helping Russia circumvent Western restrictions.
"These sanctions strike at the vessels, money and actors sustaining Russia's war economy and threatening Europe's security"
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer
The inclusion of banks from the retail and technology sectors — Wildberries, Yandex — signals a shift in logic: London is no longer limiting itself to energy and defense, but is tracking how civilian financial infrastructure facilitates military procurement.
GRU Network: Shell Company, 10 Officers, Prohibited Technology
A separate sanctions block concerns intelligence. The new measures reveal and block a network of Russian military intelligence (GRU), centered on a shell company LLC Neptune Co Ltd — it engaged in the secret supply of Western technologies for the Russian army.
Three companies and 10 GRU officers suspected of procuring military technologies that Russia needs to continue its aggression in Ukraine came under sanctions. The scheme is standard for such operations: a legally registered entity with a neutral name purchases dual-use components from suppliers who do not verify the end buyer — and transfers them through third countries.
- LLC Neptune Co Ltd — central GRU shell structure
- 10 GRU officers — suspected of organizing procurement
- 3 affiliated companies — likely intermediaries in the supply chain
- Yandex Bank, Wildberries Bank, Evofinance Mosnarbank, Rosgosstrakh — financial infrastructure for sanctions evasion
- 27 vessels — including the first G7 sanctions against Arctic LNG 2's LNG fleet
Context: There Is Pressure, But the US Remains Aside for Now
The British package is synchronized with EU steps, but the United States has not joined. The impact of sanctions remains uncertain as long as Washington stays aside and the EU continues discussions on the next, 19th package.
The actual deterrent effect of the new items will depend on whether third countries — particularly India and China, the main buyers of Russian LNG and oil — begin to comply with secondary sanctions risks. If Indian and Chinese operators continue accepting sanctioned vessels, the blockade of Arctic LNG 2 at 10% capacity will remain a ceiling, not a floor.
