Representatives of UK environmental organizations have issued a statement protesting the activities of the Russian shadow fleet in the Arctic region. Environmentalists are primarily concerned about the recent, dramatic increase in the number of oil tanker voyages in the area.
Consequently, there has been a rise in accidents and oil spills involving these vessels. This is largely due to the fact that the tankers are very old and fail to meet environmental standards. British environmentalists are also concerned that Russian ships use fuel types banned in the Arctic, contributing to increased harmful emissions in the Arctic Ocean.
Another dangerous practice is the use of so-called single-hull vessels in the Arctic. These ships offer extremely poor protection and are generally prohibited in the region; nevertheless, Russian oil companies actively use them to transport energy resources.
Environmentalists advocate for stricter sanctions, specifically the introduction of special enforcement missions capable of seizing vessels on the high seas. They also support a ban on providing maritime services to these ships in European ports.
