Against the backdrop of successful strikes by the Ukrainian Defense Forces on the aggressor state’s oil refining infrastructure and the resulting fuel shortage, the kremlin has intensified its schemes involving third-country oil refining.

Ukrainian military intelligence has documented the implementation of one such scheme through the Indian oil refining company Nayara Energy, 49.13% of whose shares are owned by the russian state-owned company rosneft. Through this company, crude oil is refined and the resulting petroleum products are exported via a "shadow fleet" network.

On June 20, 2026, the AGNI (IMO 9314167), a tanker belonging to the russian “shadow fleet,” departed from Nayara Energy's oil terminal with nearly 67,500 metric tons of petroleum products on board. The vessel’s declared destination was an area west of the Suez Canal near the Egyptian port of Port Said.

There, another “shadow fleet” tanker, the GARNET (IMO 9577094), was waiting to conduct a ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of the petroleum products.

STS (Ship-to-Ship transfer) is the transfer of cargo between two vessels on the high seas, which in this case allows for the concealment of the transfer of petroleum products from one tanker to another.

The transfer of petroleum products from the AGNI to the GARNET was carried out with the AIS (Automatic Identification System) turned off, which, in the event of an emergency, could have resulted in an environmental disaster and maritime accidents.

After completing the operation, the GARNET transmitted false cargo information. Specifically, AIS data indicated that the vessel was sailing in ballast. As of now, the tanker has passed through the Strait of Gibraltar. Its likely destinations are the port of “vitino” in the White Sea or one of the Baltic ports.

As a reminder, the War&Sanctions project previously identified the vessels AGNI and GARNET as tankers belonging to the “shadow fleet” of the aggressor state, russia.

The tanker AGNI is affiliated with the Indian company GatikShip Management. In 2022–2023, this company was among the largest operators of the “shadow fleet,” which facilitated the export of russian oil and petroleum products in circumvention of Western sanctions. The company was the largest carrier of fossil fuels on behalf of PJSC “NK rosneft.”

Due to increased scrutiny from the international community, Gatik quickly transferred ownership of its fleet to affiliated companies, including newly established ones in India and the UAE, effectively pioneering the practice of “juggling” “shadow fleet” vessels.

The tanker GARNET is owned by the Seychelles-based company Shantal Navigation Corp, which is affiliated with the russian sanctioned company PJSC “sovcomflot” through a network of affiliated companies subject to international sanctions.

PJSC “sovcomflot” is russia’s largest state-owned shipping company, which supports offshore hydrocarbon production and the transportation of russian oil, petroleum products, and liquefied natural gas.

Previously, DIU reported details regarding the situation in the aggressor state’s oil sector, including the Kremlin’s plans to import fuel from India.