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  • Product: ONESOURCE Global Trade

New Zealand sanctions Russian shadow fleet and foreign supporters

Date of Publication: June 23, 2025
New Zealand has announced a new sanctions package in response to Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. This latest package targets individuals and entities from Iran, North Korea, and Belarus, reflecting a growing effort to disrupt third-party support for Russia’s war efforts.
This marks the
first time
 New Zealand has directly targeted
vessels
 involved in sanctions evasion.

Key Measures Adopted

  • Ten individuals
     designated – Including two from Russia, two from Belarus, four North Korean actors, and two Iranian actors. These individuals were found to be involved in supporting Russia's military-industrial complex.
  • Eight entities
     designated – Notable additions include commercial drone operator Aeroscan, combat aircraft developer OKB Yakovlev, and Kalashnikov Concern,
    Russia’s largest manufacturer of automatic weapons and ammunition
    .
  • 27 ‘Shadow Fleet’ vessels
     designated – These vessels, part of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, are allegedly involved in sanctions evasion activities, such as transporting Russian oil above the G7 Plus oil price cap, which New Zealand adopted in 2024.
Since the Russia Sanctions Act came into force in March 2022, New Zealand has imposed sanctions on more than 1,800 individuals, entities, and vessels, along with a range of trade measures.

Conclusion

New Zealand’s latest sanctions package signals an expanded enforcement approach, especially with its unprecedented move to sanction vessels from Russia’s shadow fleet.
These developments highlights New Zealand’s commitment to countering sanctions evasion and limiting third-party support to Russia.
It is essential for businesses to stay alert and adapt their compliance practices to reflect such recent sanctions developments, thereby reducing the likelihood of prohibited associations.
These changes have been updated in ONESOURCE Global Trade Content.
For more information on how ONESOURCE Global Trade solutions can assist you in managing restricted party screening, please contact your Account Manager or Customer Success Manager.