THE European Union slapped new sanctions on Russia today over the war with Ukraine, targeting Moscow’s shadow fleet of tankers moving liquefied natural gas (LNG).

At a meeting in Luxembourg, EU foreign ministers also expressed concern about a rise in hybrid attacks by Russia — including allegations of election interference, cyber-attacks and sabotage.

To push Russia into using more costly routes for energy purposes, the ministers said in a statement, the EU will “forbid reloading services of Russian LNG in EU territory for the purpose of transhipment operations to third countries.”

The EU has accused Russia of running a “ghost fleet” of up to 400 ships carrying LNG to evade sanctions and keep up energy earnings amid targeted sanctions.

Last year, about 141 to 212 billion cubic feet of Russian LNG was shipped to third countries via EU ports last year, the bloc estimates.

More than 50 officials are also being targeted with asset freezes, as well as travel bans.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and scores of politicians and several oligarchs are among more than 1,700 people already listed by the EU.

It follows a decision by the EU to launch accession talks with Ukraine this week.

In 2019, Ukraine changed its constitution to include its aims to join the bloc and formally put in an application on February 28 2022 – five days after Russia launched its attack.

Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration Olga Stefanishyna said that the decision was “the utmost will of the Ukrainian people.”

She said the country was not seeking special treatment, saying: “Ukraine is moving fast, without skipping any elements of the process, without asking [for] any discount.”