Working Conditions Aboard the Elyte

In late July 2025, the U.S. Treasury Department enacted sanctions on over 115 individuals, entities, and vessels connected to Iran, impacting those involved in the transport of Russian oil. Notably, three tankers—the 'Tagor', 'Guanyin', and 'Tassos'—were scheduled to deliver Russian oil to India this month, all now under U.S. sanctions. The 'Tagor' was originally set for Chennai, while the 'Guanyin' and 'Tassos' aimed for ports in western India, as confirmed by trade sources and Russian port data. These sanctions are part of a broader effort to reduce Russia’s oil revenue, seen as a financial lifeline for its ongoing military operations in Ukraine, and have increasingly affected the supply of Russian oil to India, which relies on Russia for over a third of its oil imports. After the sanctions, the 'Tagor' redirected its course to Dalian, while the 'Tassos' turned towards Port Said. The 'Guanyin' continued its journey towards Sikka, a port utilized by major players such as Reliance Industries (RELI.NS) and Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL.NS). In a related development, tankers 'Achilles' and 'Elyte', both carrying Russian oil, are preparing to unload shipments of Russian Urals for Reliance, despite having been sanctioned by both the UK and the EU.