Russia has turned to its so-called “shadow fleet” to carry out a “semi-dark” ship-to-ship oil transfer worth about $29.3 million in the Gulf of Oman, deliberately bypassing Western sanctions, according to reports.
Maritime intelligence agency Windward AI reported on March 8 that the Russian-flagged tanker M/V TRUST, a ship already blacklisted by the US, European Union and United Kingdom, was conducting a “highly likely” covert transfer of crude oil in Omani territorial waters.
Based on an estimated price of approximately $90 per barrel on March 10, the cargo involved in the transfer was valued at approximately $29.3 million.
“The timing of the operation coincided with increased military escalation in the Gulf following Operation Epic Fury, suggesting the ship exploited regional instability to conduct the transfer under less supervision,” Windward said.
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A crude oil tanker is anchored in Muscat during the US-Israeli conflict with Iran in Muscat, Oman, March 6, 2026. (Reuters/Benoit Tessier)
The tanker had previously loaded about 325,000 barrels of Russian crude at the Russian port of Ust-Luga, Windward said.
Windward described the operation as a “semi-dark” activity, meaning one of the ships transmitted its automatic identification system (AIS) signal while the other did not.
According to the company, the M/V TRUST had anchored and switched off its AIS transponder while conducting a so-called “extended stationary meeting” with another tanker, likely producing an anonymous vessel to transfer the cargo process.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with the Russian delegation and some officials ahead of the Istanbul talks on May 14, 2025 in Moscow, Russia. (Kremlin Press Office/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)
A completely “dark” meeting, Windward said, typically involves two ships that are not transmitting, but in this case only one ship appeared to be transmitting, creating partial visibility that continues to complicate tracking efforts.
Such tactics are part of a broader strategy by Moscow to continue exporting crude despite sweeping Western sanctions imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The semi-dark oil transfer comes amid increased volatility in global energy markets linked to the escalating conflict in the Middle East and restricted traffic in the Strait of Hormuz given the joint US-Israeli military action against Iran.
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A Navy ship sails in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway through which much of the world’s oil and gas flows, March 1, 2026. (Sahar Al Attar/AFP via Getty Images)
Oil hit the $100 a barrel mark on March 9 as traders assessed the risk that the conflict would disrupt flows through the Strait, which carries about a fifth of global supply. CNBC reported.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on March 9 that Russia, the world’s second-largest oil exporter and holder of the largest natural gas reserves, stands ready to resume long-term energy cooperation with European customers if they choose to return. Reuters reported.
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Meanwhile, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that Russia “should not be involved” in the escalating conflict between the US, Israel and Iran.
His comments followed reports suggesting that Moscow could provide intelligence to Tehran, although the Kremlin has not publicly confirmed these claims.
On Russia’s semi-dark ship-to-ship cargo transfers during the ongoing conflict, Windward highlighted “operational blind spots that allow illegal maritime activities to continue largely uninterrupted.”
