Russia's oil shadow fleet operates through a centralized IT network, revealing a coordinated effort behind its trading activities.
Russia's network of oil traders and shadow fleet shipping firms, long thought to be loosely connected, is, in fact, coordinated through a common IT infrastructure, reports Fort Lauderdale's Maritime Executive.
An investigation by London's Financial Times found that more than 80 percent of Rosneft's crude exports were channeled through a single coordinated network of brokers. Analysis of company records revealed that dozens of supposedly independent firms shared the same private server, suggesting centralized back-office functions.
The probe identified Redwood Global Supply FZ LLC, registered in Ras al Khaimah and sanctioned by the UK in December 2025, as the largest exporter in the network. Redwood's rise coincided with the decline of Rosneft and Lukoil exports after sanctions. Oil moved through multiple brokers, with source descriptors replaced by generic terms to obscure origin.
Investigators linked the network to Coral Energy, with two Azeri businessmen - Tahir Garayev and Etibar Eyyub - playing key roles. Both are sanctioned and connected to Rosneft chief Igor Sechin. The structure appears designed to facilitate the rapid creation and dissolution of firms to stay ahead of sanctions enforcement.
The UAE has emerged as a hub for these operations, with brokers and ship managers organizing ship-to-ship transfers and deliveries to China and India. Some firms openly advertise Russian oil supply, raising concerns that the UAE could face renewed scrutiny from the Financial Action Task Force.
Russian exports have fallen sharply, from 3.8 million barrels per day in December to 2.8 million this month, according to Kpler. Analysts say tougher enforcement by Ukraine's allies could further weaken Moscow's ability to fund its war in Ukraine.
