According to a new report, Russian “shadow vessels” are using false flags to deceive Russian authorities over its conflict in Ukraine.
According to a report released on Thursday by the Helsinki-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), 113 Russian vessels flown a false flag in total over the first nine months of this year, transporting roughly 11 million tonnes of oil worth $4. 7 billion ($5.4 billion).
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According to report co-author Luke Wickenden, “Russian shadow tankers sailing under false flags are now growing alarmingly frequently.”
“False-flagged vessels alone traveled through the Danish Straits to transport 1.4 billion euros ($1.6 billion) of Russian crude oil and oil products” in September.
To avoid being scrutinized, Russia’s secretive shadow fleet transports prohibited goods, particularly oil, under non-Russian flags.
Every ship operating in international waters is required to fly a flag that grants it legal authority to conduct its operations there.
Countries are able to fly their flag and grant their nationality under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Some nations offer open registries that permit the use of their flag by foreign-owned or controlled vessels, a practice that some shippers favor due to lower registration costs and regulatory burdens.
As of the end of September, CREA reported that 96 sanctioned vessels had flown a false flag at least once this year.
According to the think tank, 85 vessels have at least two flag changes registered within the United States Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) or the United Kingdom, in total.
At least 10 Russian ships were registered in their fleet in September 2025, according to CREA, for a total of 162 shadow vessels, compared to the six flag registries that had not flagged a Russian ship prior to Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
“We also see that shadow vessel operators are exploiting the capacity limitations of economically weak nations to use their flags and existing regulations to obtain passage rights to deliver blood oil,” said co-author Vaibhav Raghunandan, urging the EU and the UK to change their flagging policies and practices.
According to CREA, its report was based on information from the maritime safety platform Equasis, including vessel ownership and flag registry records.
It claimed to have cross-referenced the data with the global shipping industry database GSIS (Global Integrated Shipping System).
More evasive methods
The findings from the Center for a New American Security in Washington, according to Rachel Ziemba, an adjunct senior fellow at the organization.
On the back of increased pressure from the EU and China’s plans to block so-called “zombie vessels,” which use the registration numbers of retired vessels, Ziemba claimed Moscow had used “more evasive techniques.”
“There is an open question about enforcement,” Ziemba said, despite the US and the EU’s continued implementation of new sanctions on Russian oil.
Countries would need to target vessels, intermediaries, and buyers in order to significantly reduce Russia’s oil sales, she said, as sanctions enforcement becomes more difficult as a result of the growing illicit trade.
According to Ziemba, “but that comes with costs,” suggesting that China, a major buyer of Russian oil, might launch retaliations against nations that enacted tougher sanctions.
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Jess Anderson
Anfield journalist for BBC Sport
196 Comments
At the start of the campaign, Liverpool appeared to be in a strong position to defend their Premier League title and advance far in the Champions League with seven consecutive victories under their belt.
After being humiliated 4-1 by PSV at Anfield, they are currently on their worst run in 71 years.
For the first time since December 1953, the team has lost nine games in 12 games, three straight losses in all competitions by a margin of three goals, and seven goals have been conceded at their typically fortress-like Merseyside home in just five days.
“Truly, I don’t have the answers,” I say. Liverpool’s midfielder Curtis Jones responded to RTE with “unacceptable.”
“I’m past the internal fury. I’m at the point where I simply can’t speak.
Liverpool fans were in dreamland after Arne Slot led them to the Premier League title in his first season, but now they are questioning whether he is still the right choice.
As the Dutch manager attempts to resolve a problem that has quickly turned into a serious issue, he is under more pressure.
Former Liverpool full-back Stephen Warnock stated to BBC Sport, “At the moment, things are not clicking and it all feels very difficult.”
The defeats are currently just adding up, compounding the situation so it keeps getting worse.
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Without “answers and stability,” Slot’s future is in doubt.
Following a run of six defeats in seven games that raised questions and the possibility of a crisis, Liverpool’s excellent start was followed by a run of six defeats.
With victories over Real Madrid and Aston Villa raising morale and giving hope to a comeback, things started to improve earlier in November.
However, they ultimately proved to be a temporary respite rather than a permanent change in their fortunes.
It was difficult to lose to Manchester City 3-0 just before the international break, but it still happens against Pep Guardiola’s team.
However, Sean Dyche’s Nottingham Forest suffered the same setback that caused them to finish 12th in the Premier League, which is now followed by this humiliating defeat against PSV, which is only their second appearance at Anfield in their previous 26 pre-knockout stage matches.
With their position of authority deteriorating, it leaves Slot with a significant task ahead of them to restore their side to the top of the Premier League and to maintain their quest for top-eight spots in the Champions League league.
The only thing I’d say is that things weren’t right at the start of the season either, when they were winning, added Warnock. “I don’t think there should be a knee-jerk reaction. I think this is a very tough moment at Liverpool, for one reason or another.
Liverpool have not frequently used the tactic of slacking managers at the first sign of trouble. Let’s not forget that, having just replaced Jurgen Klopp, Slot led the best start of his career last year, winning eight victories in his first ten top-flight games.
But his summer deals have failed, putting him under pressure.
Alexander Isak, a record-breaking transfer, is still recovering from injury, Florian Wirtz, a German international, and left-back Milos Kerkez.
However, Slot’s team trailed on Wednesday with just two substitutions. In a second difficult evening for the French defender, Isak replaced fellow new signing Hugo Ekitike, who appeared to have picked up an injury, while Federico Chiesa replaced the injured Ibrahima Konate.
Admitted Slot: “This run is a shock for everyone.
For the players, for me, please. It’s very unexpected and shocks me not easily. Everyone can do better, but that includes myself.
Perhaps Dominik Szoboszlai has had the most positive influence.
He demonstrates there are much better uses for him than as a stand-in right-back while returning to his role as a central midfielder against PSV and giving him both energy and an attacking threat.
Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard stated to TNT Sports, “With each defeat, it gets closer to becoming a crisis.” Liverpool are not [yet] at that level, in my opinion.
“A performance like that at this football club is for no reason,” the club president said.
You can’t deny that the team is struggling a lot, that they are in a terrible run, that they are completely self-conscious, and that they are wide open.
This situation will continue unless the manager finds solutions and stability in his team.
However, Slot was never going to make PSV a simple fixture in his efforts to get his players back on track.
The former Feyenoord boss has lost just one of his last eight games to the Eredivisie outfit in all competitions (D3 L4), and no other manager has gone through a worse defeat.
Slot claims that he is focused on turning things around rather than worrying about where he will end up at the club.
What data are gathered from this quiz?
What’s next and the “big picture”?
With three victories in four matches, Liverpool had been performing well in the Champions League.
With only one point off the top eight, they will still have to play tough matches against Inter Milan and Marseille away.
However, the Premier League match against West Ham on Sunday will be the first thing.
According to Warnock, “every Liverpool player is currently in need of getting back to basics because they are all currently going through difficult times and need to get better.”
Morale needs to be lifted, but it’s very challenging to do so. They don’t have any fun games.
Although Liverpool’s first results were impressive, issues were still a problem for new signings and players who had impressed last year for their contributions.
Portugal’s forward Diogo Jota’s passing in July has had an enormous impact.
With everything that has transpired at the club, “I believe there is a bigger picture,” Warnock added.
What is going on is significantly different from last year. However, the results-driven industry is at its best, and Liverpool are currently losing games frequently. There aren’t any signs that things are changing.
What do you attribute that to, though? Does the manager have to decide this? Is it because of Jota’s behavior? Due to everything that surrounds it, I believe the club will find it very challenging to look at this situation.
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Jess Anderson
Anfield journalist for BBC Sport
196 Comments
At the start of the campaign, Liverpool appeared to be in a strong position to defend their Premier League title and advance far in the Champions League with seven consecutive victories under their belt.
After being humiliated 4-1 by PSV at Anfield, they are currently on their worst run in 71 years.
For the first time since December 1953, the team has lost nine games in 12 games, three straight losses in all competitions by a margin of three goals, and seven goals have been conceded at their typically fortress-like Merseyside home in just five days.
“Truly, I don’t have the answers,” I say. Liverpool’s midfielder Curtis Jones responded to RTE with “unacceptable.”
“I’m past the internal fury. I’m at the point where I simply can’t speak.
Liverpool fans were in dreamland after Arne Slot led them to the Premier League title in his first season, but now they are questioning whether he is still the right choice.
As the Dutch manager attempts to resolve a problem that has quickly turned into a serious issue, he is under more pressure.
Former Liverpool full-back Stephen Warnock stated to BBC Sport, “At the moment, things are not clicking and it all feels very difficult.”
The defeats are currently just adding up, compounding the situation so it keeps getting worse.
JavaScript must be enabled in your browser to play this video.
Without “answers and stability,” Slot’s future is in doubt.
Following a run of six defeats in seven games that raised questions and the possibility of a crisis, Liverpool’s excellent start was followed by a run of six defeats.
With victories over Real Madrid and Aston Villa raising morale and giving hope to a comeback, things started to improve earlier in November.
However, they ultimately proved to be a temporary respite rather than a permanent change in their fortunes.
It was difficult to lose to Manchester City 3-0 just before the international break, but it still happens against Pep Guardiola’s team.
However, Sean Dyche’s Nottingham Forest suffered the same setback that caused them to finish 12th in the Premier League, which is now followed by this humiliating defeat against PSV, which is only their second appearance at Anfield in their previous 26 pre-knockout stage matches.
With their position of authority deteriorating, it leaves Slot with a significant task ahead of them to restore their side to the top of the Premier League and to maintain their quest for top-eight spots in the Champions League league.
The only thing I’d say is that things weren’t right at the start of the season either, when they were winning, added Warnock. “I don’t think there should be a knee-jerk reaction. I think this is a very tough moment at Liverpool, for one reason or another.
Liverpool have not frequently used the tactic of slacking managers at the first sign of trouble. Let’s not forget that, having just replaced Jurgen Klopp, Slot led the best start of his career last year, winning eight victories in his first ten top-flight games.
But his summer deals have failed, putting him under pressure.
Alexander Isak, a record-breaking transfer, is still recovering from injury, Florian Wirtz, a German international, and left-back Milos Kerkez.
However, Slot’s team trailed on Wednesday with just two substitutions. In a second difficult evening for the French defender, Isak replaced fellow new signing Hugo Ekitike, who appeared to have picked up an injury, while Federico Chiesa replaced the injured Ibrahima Konate.
Admitted Slot: “This run is a shock for everyone.
For the players, for me, please. It’s very unexpected and shocks me not easily. Everyone can do better, but that includes myself.
Perhaps Dominik Szoboszlai has had the most positive influence.
He demonstrates there are much better uses for him than as a stand-in right-back while returning to his role as a central midfielder against PSV and giving him both energy and an attacking threat.
Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard stated to TNT Sports, “With each defeat, it gets closer to becoming a crisis.” Liverpool are not [yet] at that level, in my opinion.
“A performance like that at this football club is for no reason,” the club president said.
You can’t deny that the team is struggling a lot, that they are in a terrible run, that they are completely self-conscious, and that they are wide open.
This situation will continue unless the manager finds solutions and stability in his team.
However, Slot was never going to make PSV a simple fixture in his efforts to get his players back on track.
The former Feyenoord boss has lost just one of his last eight games to the Eredivisie outfit in all competitions (D3 L4), and no other manager has gone through a worse defeat.
Slot claims that he is focused on turning things around rather than worrying about where he will end up at the club.
What data are gathered from this quiz?
What’s next and the “big picture”?
With three victories in four matches, Liverpool had been performing well in the Champions League.
With only one point off the top eight, they will still have to play tough matches against Inter Milan and Marseille away.
However, the Premier League match against West Ham on Sunday will be the first thing.
According to Warnock, “every Liverpool player is currently in need of getting back to basics because they are all currently going through difficult times and need to get better.”
Morale needs to be lifted, but it’s very challenging to do so. They don’t have any fun games.
Although Liverpool’s first results were impressive, issues were still a problem for new signings and players who had impressed last year for their contributions.
Portugal’s forward Diogo Jota’s passing in July has had an enormous impact.
With everything that has transpired at the club, “I believe there is a bigger picture,” Warnock added.
What is going on is significantly different from last year. However, the results-driven industry is at its best, and Liverpool are currently losing games frequently. There aren’t any signs that things are changing.
What do you attribute that to, though? Does the manager have to decide this? Is it because of Jota’s behavior? Due to everything that surrounds it, I believe the club will find it very challenging to look at this situation.
After going back from 5-0 down to beat Stuart Bingham 6-5 in the final round of qualifying for the UK Championship, an emotional Scott Donaldson said, “I think my dad was doing something.”
When he lost 4-0 to the 2015 world champion in Wigan, Donaldson, whose father, Hector, passed away in his 70th year on October 2, was texting his wife about getting home.
Bingham had a one-frame lead over victory and a spot in the main tournament by putting in breaks of 71 and 117.
Donaldson, who made breaks of 56 and 64 before a 110, however, stunned his rival with a stirring comeback.
Donaldson told BBC Radio 5 Live, “I played the Scottish Open qualifiers two days after his]Hector] funeral.
He had already booked his flights and lodging for me to Belfast while he was attending the Northern Ireland Open.
I was just in my seat, welling up, and that was incredibly difficult. I have no idea how I was able to defeat Wu Yize 4-3 in the end.
“I’ve kind of been okay since then because I know he would always prefer that I just do my stuff,” he said.
He enjoyed watching me play. He’s still watching me play in my mind. I simply don’t know where he is at this moment.
After going back from 5-0 down to beat Stuart Bingham 6-5 in the final round of qualifying for the UK Championship, an emotional Scott Donaldson said, “I think my dad was doing something.”
When he lost 4-0 to the 2015 world champion in Wigan, Donaldson, whose father, Hector, passed away in his 70th year on October 2, was texting his wife about getting home.
Bingham had a one-frame lead over victory and a spot in the main tournament by putting in breaks of 71 and 117.
Donaldson, who made breaks of 56 and 64 before a 110, however, stunned his rival with a stirring comeback.
Donaldson told BBC Radio 5 Live, “I played the Scottish Open qualifiers two days after his]Hector] funeral.
He had already booked his flights and lodging for me to Belfast while he was attending the Northern Ireland Open.
I was just in my seat, welling up, and that was incredibly difficult. I have no idea how I was able to defeat Wu Yize 4-3 in the end.
“I’ve kind of been okay since then because I know he would always prefer that I just do my stuff,” he said.
He enjoyed watching me play. He’s still watching me play in my mind. I simply don’t know where he is at this moment.
After being taken in the hospital and having more heart scans before embarking on a tour, singer Max George has revealed his recent health issues to The Mirror.
Assistant Celebrity and Entertainment Editor, Daniel Bird
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Singer Max George has shared a huge update on his health, as well as surprising Guides and Rangers(Image: PA)
Max George’s recent hospital admission has been described as “scary.” The singer, who became famous as the other half of The Wanted, recently went to the hospital to undergo MRI scans just days before his scheduled tour date.
The 36-year-old from Swinton, Greater Manchester, has been open about his health concerns in recent years after having surgery to install a pacemaker due to heart problems almost a year ago.
Speaking to the Mirror from Manchester, where he joined Guides and Rangers ahead of the Big Gig Performance at OVO Arena Wembley, Max said: “I had an arrhythmia – the top half of my heart was doing 50, which it should, and the bottom was 160, it was out of sync.
“It was scary, but I’m still alright now. I needed medication to maintain my balance, and I’m taking it right now. An abnormal rhythm causes the heart to beat too quickly or slowly due to a signal disruption.
But Max, a singer from Barcelona, has to make changes in his lifestyle. He continued, “Getting used to life that is a little different. I have to be careful not to do too much because I rely on my pacemaker for things like exercise.
“I have to avoid doing things that I enjoy doing, like playing football or skiing, which is difficult.” While Max, who currently plays for The Wanted 2.0 with bandmate Siva Kaneswaran, acknowledges that despite playing football his entire life, it was “one of those things.”
You have to get started with it, he said, “It is what it is.” He first described his heart issues last year, just days after returning home from America, as “it was crazy. It literally appeared out of nowhere. Everything was fine, and it just happened at home as I recently went on this tour in America. I was quickly at home with a pacemaker after being horrified by it. To be honest, you don’t really have time to think about it.
The news came as a huge setback for the singer, famed for hits including Walks Like Rihanna and Gold Forever, with Max left itching to get back on stage as soon as possible. “All I wanted to do was get back to work,” he said. But while Max thought he was on the road to recovery, he was dealt another blow.
The singer revealed: “I had a setback as I had to have the operation done again. It took six or seven months to heal and get used to it, but I’m not too bad now. It happened before Christmas last year, so hopefully this one there will be a little less drama!”
But how will he spend this Christmas, away from the hospital? He and his girlfriend, former EastEnders star Maisie Smith, will be heading abroad together. Opening up about their upcoming getaway, Max commented: “I’m going away for Christmas this year because Maisie’s been working for nine months on tour, and I’ve been touring, so we haven’t seen each other.”
He’ll be going skiing in Switzerland this year instead of going to the hospital. Max laughed, “No blacks or red runs.” He continued, “We have months away at a time, so when we do see each other, we want to make the absolute most of it.” We’ll probably go away again in April because we essentially only communicate abroad. It’s three times the length of a holiday romance.
The singer praised his girlfriend for both her stubbornness and her bravery as well, and he did not hold back. The singer gushed, “Maisie’s got a very strong mindset,” while reiterating Maisie’s way of life and incorporating the Girlguiding’s plan to show Girls Can Do Anything. She is very resolute, but I believe that’s a good thing. She is fantastic.
The accomplishments she made are comparable to Celebrity SAS. Speaking with other people, including my bandmate Siva, who said it was the most difficult thing he’d ever done his life, I’ve learned. Maisie said to his girlfriend, “He added, and it was difficult, but fun. He won.” She enjoys working out in the gym and is very adventurous. I’m still ahead of her in tennis, so I’ve got that one. She’s good at everything.
She’s currently appearing in “The Talented Mr Ripley,” and I watched it last night and was awestruck. She is incredible at acting. She has a lot of talent. World Mental Health Day falls on October 10, 2026, which is the start of Girlguiding’s Big Gig in the following year. a subject that is dear to Max’s heart.
But how does a member of one of the biggest boy bands in the UK maintain a healthy mind? He said, “I make an effort to keep myself busy.” Max also enjoys spending quality time with his beloved British bulldog, Albert, who he frequently shares photos with on social media. He said, “I spend days taking my British bulldog Albert out and finding a new trail to do” if I have days where I’m not doing anything.
I mix up what I do, especially during the last year, when I spent a lot of time relaxing and doing nothing. I only had the option of walking, so I’ve done a lot of it with my dog.
“Albert loves using my pacemaker very much. Instead of staying inside, I enjoy going outside and taking in some fresh air. He also enjoys it. When you look at his little face, you can tell he’s so excited to leave. Max admits that the focus of his own Girlguiding badge would be happiness-focused.
The “Everyone’s Got To Smile All Day badge” was added by him. You are not permitted to frown, and you are not permitted to wear the badge if you are caught not smiling. And the front would be greeted with a large smiley face. This week, the musicians stopped by Guides and Rangers from Burnage to meet them for their weekly evening meeting while the teenagers were attempting to earn their Music and Fandom Interest badges.
After meeting Max at the meeting, Guide Nakia, 14, was completely blown away. She continued, “I really enjoyed meeting Max because I am a big fan of him. He treated everyone so nicely. I’m now desperate to purchase a Big Gig ticket because of the surprise. Girlguiding’s gift of these kinds of adventures is extremely kind to us.
Max mentioned surprising the attendees at the meeting by saying, “It was so nice to meet the attendees and receive my Music badge from them. They gave me adorable bracelets and earrings.
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Siva and I are looking forward to playing at Big Gig once more. We’ll make the show as upbeat as possible to create a party atmosphere because I have vivid memories of the last time the crowd was extremely loud.
On December 9, 2025, Girlguiding members will be able to purchase tickets for the Big Gig. Their website has more details than one.
