LONDON — The British government has announced sanctions on 30 vessels associated with Russia’s “shadow fleet,” which have been circumventing international restrictions to transport vast amounts of oil. This move is part of an extensive sanctions package aimed at targeting these decrepit and often illegitimate ships that operate illegally to escape sanctions, according to the Foreign Office. With this latest action, the U.K. has now placed sanctions on 73 oil tankers, the highest number by any country, as part of their strategy to undermine significant funding for Russia’s ongoing military operations in Ukraine.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy addressed the issue during a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Italy, emphasizing the critical link between Russia’s oil revenues and the ongoing conflict. “Russia’s oil revenues are fueling the fires of war and destruction in Ukraine,” he stated. He added that the U.K. is resolutely committed to imposing costs on both the vessels and the entities that facilitate their operations in defiance of European and U.K. sanctions.

According to the Foreign Office, approximately half of the sanctioned vessels were involved in delivering over 3.4 billion pounds ($4.3 billion) worth of oil and oil products within the last year. Furthermore, two insurance companies have also been added to the sanctions list for their roles in supporting the shadow fleet’s operations.

The decision to enhance sanctions on this fleet was influenced by discussions held during the European Political Community summit in July, where leaders agreed on the necessity of tightening measures against such vessels to collectively work towards countering the funding of Russia’s military endeavors.