The US has detained another tanker belonging to Russia’s “shadow fleet”: what is known
21 January 02:46
The United States continues to take active measures against Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” which is used to circumvent international sanctions. The US military detained the oil tanker Sagitta in the Caribbean Sea, which is under sanctions for illegally transporting Russian oil. This was reported by the US Southern Command on social media, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
Violation of sanctions quarantine
The US Southern Command noted that the detention took place as part of Operation Southern Spear, which the US is conducting jointly with the US Coast Guard, the US Department of Homeland Security, and the US Department of Justice.
According to the American side, the tanker Sagitta violated a special quarantine for ships under sanctions, which was introduced by President Donald Trump in the Caribbean.
“This morning, U.S. military forces, with the support of the Department of Homeland Security, detained the tanker Sagitta without incident. This demonstrates our determination to ensure that only oil that is transported in accordance with the law is exported from the region,” the U.S. Southern Command said in a statement.
Through #OpSouthernSpear, the @DeptofWar is unwavering in its mission to crush illicit activity in the Western Hemisphere in partnership with @USCG, @DHSgov and @TheJusticeDept.
— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) January 20, 2026
This morning, U.S. military forces, in support of the Department of Homeland Security, apprehended… pic.twitter.com/UPADtiw681
Ship under sanctions from almost the entire West
According to the War Sanction portal, the detained tanker is part of the Russian Federation’s “shadow fleet” and is under sanctions from a number of countries and associations, including Ukraine, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, the European Union, Switzerland, Australia, and New Zealand.
During the G7 embargo and price cap policy on Russian oil, the ship was actively used to export oil products from Russian ports in the Baltic Sea and the Pacific region. The main destinations for deliveries were China and India.
Analysts also note that Sagitta systematically resorted to turning off the AIS automatic identification system, conducting so-called “dark activities” at sea, which is a typical practice for sanctioned shipments.
Environmental risks
The international environmental organization Greenpeace also considers the Sagitta tanker to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet,” emphasizing that such vessels pose a serious threat to the environment due to low safety standards and a lack of proper control.
The tanker’s detention was another sign of the US’s tougher stance on enforcing sanctions and combating illegal exports of Russian oil.
