The tanker Lareo (IMO 9385831), flying the flag of Sierra Leone, is recognized as a sanctioned tanker and is currently loading a cargo of approximately 40,000 tons of diesel from the port of Primorsk. The loading date of this cargo dates back to October 16, 2026, and according to AIS information, this tanker is heading towards the Atlantic coast "for orders". It is expected that this tanker will arrive in New York around November 7.
Sanctions and the Current Status of the Lareo Tanker
The Lareo tanker is on the sanctions list of the UK and the EU, but this tanker has passed through the UK's exclusive economic zone without being seized. The movement of this tanker comes as Western sanctions continue to be imposed on Russian oil and petroleum product exports. Whether there was an intention to seize this tanker has become a question mark due to the lack of Royal Navy ships available for operations.
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Political and Economic Implications
These developments clearly indicate the division created by the resumption of Russian diesel exports. President Vladimir Putin considers this situation a diplomatic victory and it seems to have caused rifts between the United States and the UK and the EU. While Russia continues to finance its war efforts by selling diesel to various countries, this project also helps strengthen the country's diplomatic power on the global stage.
Two other tankers have also recently loaded at the port of Primorsk, neither of which are under sanctions. The tanker Agioi Fanendes (IMO 9798375), flying the Maltese flag, is currently passing through Skagerrak and is carrying a similar diesel cargo. Additionally, the tanker Dolunay (IMO 9327463), flying the Palauan flag, is expected to arrive in Alanya, Turkey on November 1. Turkey has recently announced that it will soon resume imports of Russian diesel, indicating significant changes in this country's trade relations with Russia.
Analysts believe that Russian diesel exports may reach 3.5 million tons per month by the end of the year, significantly higher than the 1.8 million tons projected in the Trump-Putin agreement. This represents a strategic shift in international energy policies and their impacts on global markets.
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