Russia has shipped a diesel cargo to Syria for the first time in more than a decade, using a sanctioned tanker, Prosperity, according to LSEG shipping data. The Barbados-flagged vessel, formerly known as NS Pride, loaded 37,000 metric tons of ultra-low sulfur diesel from Russia’s Baltic port of Primorsk on February 8 and is now anchored near Banias, Syria.
The tanker is managed by Dubai-based Fornax Ship Management, a company also under U.S. sanctions. Fornax has not responded to requests for comment.
U.S. Sanctions & Enforcement
The United States sanctioned Prosperity on January 10, adding it to a list of around 180 restricted tankers involved in Russian oil exports since the invasion of Ukraine. The EU and the UK followed suit on February 24. Violations of these sanctions could lead to civil or criminal penalties.
In a separate case, the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control fined State Street Bank $7.45 million last year for alleged violations of Russia-related sanctions.
Syria’s Energy Crisis
The final destination of the cargo remains unclear, but Russia maintains military bases in Tartous and Hmeimim. Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad last year, Russia's control over these strategic installations has been in question.
Syria, facing an ongoing energy crisis, recently issued an import tender for 20,000 tons of LPG and is seeking crude imports, as no Iranian shipments have arrived since November, according to Kpler data. Syria’s refineries in Homs and Banias have ceased operations.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has issued a six-month waiver to some Syria-related energy sanctions, allowing limited financial transactions with Syrian authorities.
Both Russia’s energy ministry and Syria’s oil officials declined to comment on the developments.
This marks the first direct diesel shipment from Russia to Syria since 2013, highlighting the shifting dynamics of regional energy trade amid strict sanctions.
