**US Sanctions Russian Oil Tankers**
The US has imposed new sanctions on six oil tankers still under construction in Russia. The ships are owned by companies that already face US sanctions.
These tankers were meant to be used for oil transportation, but now they cannot go into service. The US is trying to stop Russia from using these ships to transport oil that is banned under international law.
The six tankers were bought by two Russian companies: Sovcomflot and Rosneft’s shipping division. Both of these companies already face US sanctions. This means the tankers will be affected too.
**Why are these tankers important?**
These tankers are part of Russia’s “shadow fleet”, a group of old ships that are used to transport oil in secret. The US wants to stop this practice because it helps Russia avoid international sanctions.
The US has also targeted two major Russian oil producers and their subsidiaries. These companies produce over 1 million barrels of oil every day, which is a lot of money for them.
**What does this mean?**
These new sanctions are meant to hurt Russia’s ability to export oil. This could make it harder for Russia to finance its actions in Ukraine.
