Japan considering new sanctions targeting Russia's 'shadow fleet,' report says

Japan is considering new sanctions against Russia that could target vessels belonging to the so-called shadow fleet, according to government sources cited by the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri and reported by TASS.

The shadow fleet refers to a network of vessels, often operating with obscured ownership or flagged in third countries, that has been used to transport Russian oil and other goods in ways intended to circumvent international sanctions imposed since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

If confirmed, the new Japanese measures would align Tokyo more closely with similar efforts by other Western-aligned governments, including the European Union and United States, which have previously targeted shadow fleet vessels as part of broader sanctions enforcement against Russia's energy exports.

The specific scope and timing of any new Japanese sanctions were not detailed in the report, which relied on unnamed government sources rather than an official announcement from Tokyo.

Japan has maintained sanctions against Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and additional measures targeting the shadow fleet would represent a continuation of its alignment with broader international efforts to limit Russia's ability to generate revenue from energy exports.