100 Ships Blocked! Russian Escape Routes Closed!

A decisive shift is underway in Europe’s approach to enforcing sanctions against Russia. After years of tolerated loopholes and diplomatic hesitation, Western powers are now targeting the shadow fleet—the covert maritime network that underpins much of Moscow’s war economy. This latest crackdown signals a move from broad financial pressure to direct interference with the operational lifelines of Russian oil exports. What’s changing is not just policy, but coordination, enforcement, and political will. Maritime traffic is being scrutinized, ports are tightening access, and middlemen are losing cover. As pressure builds on both the vessels and the infrastructure behind them, Russia’s ability to fund its war machine is being squeezed with increasing precision. The following report breaks down how the UK and EU are jointly turning sanctions from static measures into active tools of disruption.