Thu Sep 19 05:48:00 UTC 2024: ## Mumbai Apartment Linked to Russian Shadow Fleet Circumventing US Sanctions
**MUMBAI, INDIA** – A sparsely furnished apartment in Mumbai, seemingly a typical family home, is at the center of a complex scheme to circumvent US sanctions on Russian energy exports. The apartment is registered as the address of Ocean Speedstar Solutions, a Mumbai-incorporated company providing vital support to a Russian “shadow fleet” of tankers exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Arctic LNG 2 facility.
The apartment is occupied by Nikhil Ganesh Ghorpade, a photojournalist with no prior ties to the energy industry. Ghorpade claims he was persuaded by a friend to register his name and address on behalf of Ocean Speedstar and is listed as the company’s sole director.
This revelation exposes a complex network stretching from Dubai to India and China, used to create a shadow fleet of gas carriers for transporting LNG from Russia’s $21 billion Arctic LNG 2 facility.
The Russian tankers involved have reportedly disguised their locations, engaging in a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek with US authorities. This discovery highlights the intricate methods employed by Russia to evade international sanctions and continue exporting energy despite global pressure.
First Piper 