Russia’s Ghost Fleet Under Siege: Trump’s Crackdown Has Putin’s Attention

The “ghost fleet” is not exactly a state secret. It has long been known to the public and policymakers alike that Moscow uses an armada of aging ships with shadowy maintenance records and an obscure chain of custody to transit illicit goods all over the world — including weapons and energy exports.

“Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the shadow fleet — which previously mostly transported goods to and from Iran and Venezuela — has exploded in size,” the Atlantic Council observed in December 2024. In the Joe Biden era, “Western governments’ efforts to reduce the shadow fleet through sanctions on individual vessels have only been marginally effective.” In the first year of his second term, the Trump administration observed a similarly lethargic approach to interdicting these vessels and seizing their cargoes. No longer.

About the Author

Noah Rothman

Noah Rothman is a senior writer at National Review. His third book, Blood and Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence, was published by Hachette in May 2026.

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The “ghost fleet” is not exactly a state secret. It has long been known to the public and policymakers alike that Moscow uses an armada of aging ships with shadowy maintenance records and an obscure chain of custody to transit illicit goods all over the world — including weapons and energy exports.

“Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the shadow fleet — which previously mostly transported goods to and from Iran and Venezuela — has exploded in size,” the Atlantic Council observed in December 2024. In the Joe Biden era, “Western governments’ efforts to reduce the shadow fleet through sanctions on individual vessels have only been marginally effective.” In the first year of his second term, the Trump administration observed a similarly lethargic approach to interdicting these vessels and seizing their cargoes. No longer.

About the Author

Noah Rothman

Noah Rothman is a senior writer at National Review. His third book, Blood and Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence, was published by Hachette in May 2026.