How Sanctioned Ukrainian Grew Dark Fleet In A Matter Of Months

Not much is known about Viktor Artemov, the Switzerland-based Ukrainian who landed on the US government’s blacklist earlier this month after allegedly using a fleet of 11 tankers to ship hundreds of thousands of barrels of Iranian oil. But a review of shipping databases, broker reports and corporate registry data carried out by TradeWinds shows Artemov was able to use recently registered companies to acquire much of his fleet, worth more than $260m, in just four months last year. “This was definitely the largest designation of vessels, companies, and individuals under [President Joe Biden’s] administration and probably in the last few years as well when it comes to [Iran] oil smuggling,” said Claire Jungman of United Against Nuclear Iran, a pro-sanctions advocacy group that tracks the ships carrying Iranian oil.