LONDON, Sept 11, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - The British government on Wednesday announced new sanctions on Russia's "shadow fleet" of tankers which Moscow uses to export oil, bypassing a Western embargo imposed after its invasion of Ukraine.

Experts say the so-called ghost fleet of tankers with opaque ownership or without proper insurance has allowed the Kremlin to keep exporting despite the embargo on exports and oil price cap on its global sales. 

The announcement came as Foreign Minister David Lammy travelled to Kyiv in a rare joint trip with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and as Russia's alleged acquisition of Iranian missiles raised fears.

It is the third time the UK has attempted to crack down on what the foreign ministry said were "critical revenue sources funding Putin's war machine", bringing the total number of ships sanctioned to 25. 

The 10 ships targeted in this round of sanctions were "high-volume offenders", it said.

Under the sanctions they would be "barred from entering UK ports and refused access to the UK Ship Register.

"Today's sanctions further undermine Russia's ability to trade in oil via its shadow fleet," Lammy said in a statement.

"Alongside our partners, we will continue to send a stark message to Russia that the international community stands with Ukraine and we will not tolerate this illicit fleet", he added.

The latest British move to strengthen support for Ukraine comes as Lammy and Blinken are due to discuss easing restrictions on Ukraine over the firing of Western weapons into Russia.

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden said the United States was considering lifting the restrictions on long range, US made missiles.