Albanian authorities have banned the Hanuman oil tanker from entering the port of Durrës.

On Friday, September 4, the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine (HUR) reported this, noting that the move demonstrates international solidarity with Ukraine in enforcing sanctions.

Thus, Tirana heeded HUR’s recommendations, which identified the vessel as a tanker belonging to russia’s shadow fleet.

According to information on the War&Sanctions website, which collects and publishes information on sponsors and accomplices of russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine, the Hanuman was used by the Kremlin regime to circumvent international sanctions.

“Moreover, such vessels pose a threat to international shipping and the environment of entire regions, as they switch off their trackers, perform dangerous manoeuvres, and in most cases do not comply with modern environmental standards,” the intelligence service stated.

It was established that since the beginning of 2025, the Hanuman has exported at least 452,000 tonnes of russian fuel. Its routes ran from the port of Novorossiysk to Türkiye, Senegal, the UAE, as well as to a transshipment area near the Italian city of Augusta. The logistics for these voyages was provided by the russian company Altoper Mare Ltd.

“This entity was founded and is managed by one of the top managers from the orbit of sanctioned russian oligarch Gennady Timchenko, a close associate of dictator putin. The company is known for systematically servicing shadow fleet tankers, including EVENTIN (IMO 9308065, sanctioned by the EU, Switzerland, the US, the UK, Canada and Ukraine) and CORDELIA MOON (current name — WALRUS, IMO 9297888, sanctioned by the UK, Canada, the EU, Switzerland, Australia and Ukraine),” the statement said.