ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - January 13, 2025

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - January 13, 2025

ZeroFox physical security experts collect, curate, and analyze information derived from open and proprietary sources for comprehensive context of the circumstances surrounding global events. Here is today’s daily roundup of major developments.

Brief Highlights

• Treasury Intensifies Sanctions Against Russia by Targeting Russia’s Oil Production and Exports
• Crew of Russian Shadow Fleet Vessel Lose Control of Ship in Baltic Sea
• Treasury Sanctions Venezuelan Officials Supporting Nicolas Maduro’s Repression and Illegitimate Claim to Power

Treasury Intensifies Sanctions Against Russia by Targeting Russia’s Oil Production and Exports

The U.S. Department of the Treasury took sweeping action to fulfill the G7 commitment to reduce Russian revenues from energy, including blocking two major Russian oil producers. A number of sanctions have been imposed on an unprecedented number of oil-carrying vessels, many of which are part of the “shadow fleet,” opaque traders of Russian oil, Russia-based oilfield service providers, and Russian energy officials. These actions are underpinned by the issuance of a new determination that authorizes sanctions pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14024 against persons operating or having operated in the energy sector of the Russian Federation economy. The United Kingdom is also taking action, joining the Treasury in sanctioning two major Russian oil producers.

Crew of Russian Shadow Fleet Vessel Lose Control of Ship in Baltic Sea

German media reported that an oil tanker—suspected of being part of Russia's shadow fleet—is adrift in the Baltic Sea near the island of Rügen after the crew lost control of the vessel. The "Eventin" was en route from the Russian port of Ust-Luga to the Egyptian Port Said carrying 99,000 tons of oil when the crew lost control. However, officials saw the ship was watertight and was not at risk for an oil spill or other environmental danger. The ship is expected to soon be towed to a nearby port.

Treasury Sanctions Venezuelan Officials Supporting Nicolas Maduro’s Repression and Illegitimate Claim to Power

The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning eight Venezuelan officials who lead key economic and security agencies enabling President Nicolas Maduro’s repression and subversion of democracy in Venezuela. The individuals sanctioned include the president of Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., (PdVSA)—Venezuela’s state-owned oil company—and Maduro’s Minister of Transportation and president of the Venezuelan Consortium of Aeronautical Industries and Air Services (CONVIASA), the state-owned airline. In addition, OFAC is sanctioning high-level Venezuelan officials in the military and police who lead entities with roles in carrying out Maduro’s repression and human rights abuses against democratic actors.