BRONCO

The tanker, during the period of the G7 and EU oil embargo and the price cap policy on russian crude oil/petroleum products, has been involved in the export of russian crude oil/petroleum products using deceptive, high-risk practices (disabling the Automatic Identification System (AIS), conducting dark activity near russian ports in the Black Sea, and carrying out ship-to-ship (STS) transfers with russian-affiliated vessels near European countries).
In April 2025, near Romania, the tanker (IMO 8808525) conducted an STS transfer with the tanker (IMO 9236975), which had arrived from the russian port of Novorossiysk to perform the transfer. In March 2025, near Cyprus, the tanker (IMO 8808525) conducted an STS transfer with the tanker (IMO 9424651) – designated by the EU and Switzerland since May 2025 – which had arrived in the area near Cyprus from the russian port of Tuapse, where it had conducted a series of STS transfers.
On May 20, 2025, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the tanker as part of measures targeting the shadow fleet of the russian federation, including for engaging in activities aimed at destabilizing Ukraine, undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty, or independence of Ukraine, benefiting from or supporting the government of russia, and participating in the transportation of crude oil/petroleum products of russian origin, including from russia to third countries.