The Agioi Fanendes left the Russian Baltic Sea port of Primorsk carrying 40,000 metric tons of Russian diesel. MarineTraffic reported that the ship updated its status on Oct 23 from heading to New York to "for orders," which means the final destination is unconfirmed. The ship belongs to the Greek company Eastern Mediterranean Maritime, owned by Thanasis Martinos, and it flies a Maltese flag. This shipment follows an Oct 9 deal by U.S. President Donald Trump to buy Russian diesel, a deal that might also be illegal under U.S. sanctions policy. The Agioi Fanendes shipment undermines the 21 EU sanctions packages imposed since the 2022 invasion.
| Cargo Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Cargo Volume | 40,000 metric tons |
| Commodity | Russian diesel |
| G7 Price Cap | $100 per barrel |
Enforcement and compliance gaps
EU-flagged or EU-managed ships are permitted to carry Russian diesel only if the cargo was purchased at or below the $100 per barrel G7 price cap. The G7 set this limit in 2022 to reduce Russian oil profits while ensuring the world’s energy supply. Ukraine’s sanctions chief Vladyslav Vlasiuk stated that an EU ship may carry Russian diesel only if it was bought at or below that price. A European Commission spokesperson confirmed this, stating that EU operators are only allowed to provide maritime transport if products are sold at or below the relevant price caps. Because the Commission’s written guidance says shipowners bear responsibility for cargo compliance, shipowners should obtain an attestation from customers confirming the Russian oil cargo was purchased at or below the price cap.
The Finnish Border Guard told the Kyiv Independent that there is no planned intercept for the ship as it travels through the Baltic Sea. If the ship enters the territorial waters of an EU country, which are 12 miles from the shoreline, those countries can intervene to stop the ship. Sweden’s coastguard said it keeps an updated and thorough situational awareness by monitoring sea traffic 24/7, but the agency declined to comment on the specific shipment or the Agioi Fanendes. Because the buyer, seller, and agreed price for the diesel remain unknown, the only way to prove the ship is not in breach of EU sanctions is for Malta to receive the attestation that the cargo was purchased at or below the $100 cap. Eastern Mediterranean Maritime said the discharging port is not confirmed yet. Malta’s sanctions unit said that ships flying the Maltese flag must comply fully with all applicable sanctions and that they are currently seeking relevant attestations from the ship’s owners and operators.
