Ukraine is targeting Russia’s “shadow” oil tanker fleet with fresh sanctions, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 

“Today I held a detailed meeting on sanctions and increasing pressure on Russia, specifically targeting the shadow tanker fleet,” he said in his nightly address.

“We have a series of measures in place and will be intensifying our work with partners. I also signed several decrees, including one that imposes sanctions on Russian companies and individuals who work in the interests of the aggressor state and help it evade accountability for the war.”

The so-called “shadow fleet” is a series of tankers that Russia uses to transport goods that are banned under Western sanctions. 

The UK sanctioned 10 ships in September that were “used by Russia as a desperate attempt to undermine UK and G7 sanctions and continue unfettered trade in Russian oil”.   

NATO chief: We must back Ukraine for the ‘long haul’

The head of NATO has called on allies to ensure they back Ukraine “for the long haul”. 

Speaking as he held talks with France’s Emmanuel Macron, Mark Rutte highlighted the “importance of keeping up the support as Ukrainians prepare to face what could be their harshest winter since 2022”.

“We must recommit to stay in the course for the long haul and we must do more than just keep Ukraine in the fight.

“We need to raise the cost for Putin and his enabling authoritarian friends, by providing Ukraine with the support it needs to change the trajectory of the conflict.”

Moldova complains to Moscow over ‘election interference’

Moldova has handed Russia’s ambassador to the country a protest note over alleged interference in the presidential election and a referendum on joining the EU.

The Moldovan foreign ministry said in a statement that
Russia had sought to delegitimise the election process and the October referendum.

“The ministry of foreign affairs presented today to the [Russian] ambassador… a note of protest in connection with the illegal and deliberate interference of the Russian Federation in the electoral process of the Republic of Moldova,” it said. 

Russian ambassador Oleg Ozerov said: “The conversation made it possible to clarify issues related to our acute and complex bilateral relations.”