According to a EU official and its Official Journal, the 'European Union' has adopted sanctions against companies and individuals accused of operating Russia's shadow fleet of oil tankers in order to circumvent Western sanctions.

The sanctions are aimed at nine "enablers" of the shadow fleet. This refers to businessmen who have ties with Russian oil companies Rosneft, Lukoil and shipping companies which own and manage tanks. The sanctions also cover 14 individuals and companies under the EU's hybrid threats sanctions framework, said the EU official.

Among the targets is?Canadian Pakistani oil trader Murtaza Lakhani,?CEO Mercantile & Maritime Trading Company.

The listing in the EU?Official Journal stated that "Through his businesses, he facilitates the shipment and export of Russian crude oil, particularly from the Russian state owned oil company Rosneft."

"Murtaza Lakhani, in particular, controls vessels transporting crude or petroleum products that originate?in Russia? or are exported from Russia?, while engaging in?irregular, high-risk ship practices."

The EU has also named Valery Kildiyarov as the finance director of Litasco DMCC (a trading?subsidiary) and three other people - Anar?Madatli, Talat?Safarov and Etibar Eyyub – for their ties with trading firm Coral Energy renamed 2Rivers Group. Reporting by Lili Payne and Julia Payne; writing by Louise Breusch Rasmussen; editing by Inti and Mark Heinrich.

(source: Reuters)