SMYRTOS, a sanctioned Russian tanker boarded by the UK over the weekend in Britain’s first operation of its kind, has exposed how Russia’s so-called shadow fleet operates, according to Ukraine’s presidential sanctions policy adviser, Vladyslav Vlasyuk. Vlasyuk said SMYRTOS has demonstrated how Russia has used rapidly shifting ownership structures, opaque management chains, and flag‑hopping tactics to evade international sanctions on oil exports.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. He said the vessel has undergone repeated changes in ownership and management over the past year while continuing to operate on routes used for Russian oil exports. Vlasyuk told Kyiv Post that after February 2025, the tanker was renamed from MYRTOS to SMYRTOS and altered its management structure. The tanker was part of Russia’s export system, particularly operating from the port of Kozmino, one of Russia’s key terminals for oil shipments to Asian markets. At various points, the vessel was linked to Daira Shipping Ltd (Seychelles), Crest Maritime Pte Ltd (Singapore), and later Zhao Yao Shipping Ltd (Hong Kong), while its ultimate beneficial owners remained unclear. Vlasyuk said that Crest Maritime also operated other tankers involved in Russian oil exports after the introduction of sanctions and the G7 price cap. SMYRTOS also repeatedly changed flags, including operating under Cameroon’s registry – a practice commonly used to complicate oversight of vessels and conceal previous operations.