The Insider

Russia ramps up ship-to-ship oil transfers amid sanctions and freezing weather, experts point to weaker oversight and higher spill risks “What used to be a controlled logistical operation is becoming a workaround,” said @CREACleanAir's Isaac Levi. theins.press/en/news/290534

Macron announces seizure of Russian “shadow fleet” tanker Deyna in the Mediterranean The detention follows a similar incident in January involving the “shadow fleet” tanker Grinch, which was later released after paying a multimillion-euro fine. theins.press/en/news/290514

Family of former Epstein aide has close ties to Russian state structures, Explainer investigation finds The father of Svetlana Pozhidayeva, who later changed her name to Sofia Platt, notably received his pension through the FSB. theins.press/en/news/290513

Trump’s man in Havana? Cuba looks like Washington’s next regime change target Amid an unprecedented fuel crisis caused by a U.S.-imposed oil blockade, American authorities are hinting at the possibility of removing the island’s socialist government. theins.press/en/politics/29…

Photo of missing Belarusian opposition spokesperson Anzhalika Melnikava published from Minsk gym on anniversary of her disappearance Melnikava, who had been dating a Belarusian intelligence officer, disappeared from her Warsaw home in March last year. theins.press/en/news/290479

“They destroyed all of Moscow’s competitive advantages”: Internet shutdowns are taking their toll on the Russian capital theins.press/en/society/290…

“Roskomnadzor should be put on trial”: Belgorod governor voices locals’ complaints over internet shutdowns, says they have led to deaths Communications restrictions, which the Kremlin describes as a “security measure,” are becoming more common in Russia. theins.press/en/news/290475

U.S. to lift sanctions on several Belarusian banks and companies after Lukashenko releases 250 political prisoners @viasna96 reported that 15 of those released have been deported, while 235 will remain in Belarus. theins.press/en/news/290473

One of the wrecked tankers, Volgoneft-212, was reportedly carrying fuel oil for transfer to the seagoing tanker FIRN, which is part of Russia’s “shadow fleet.” 150,000 tons of sand contaminated with fuel oil were collected from the affected coastlines after the spill.

Volgatransneft loses court case, ordered to pay $395 million in damages over 2024 fuel oil spill from wrecked tankers in Kerch Strait The disaster has been described as Russia's “worst environmental catastrophe since the beginning of the 21st century.” theins.press/en/news/290472

Russian pro-war blogger Ilya Remeslo locked up in a psych ward after criticizing Putin In a series of Mar. 18 Telegram posts, Remeslo characterized Putin as a war criminal who should be put on trial and called him a coward for hiding his children. theins.press/en/news/290465

North Korea supplied Russia with military aid worth up to $14.6 billion, report finds Russia has paid Pyongyang mainly by transferring sensitive military technologies and precision components that are difficult to track by satellite. theins.press/en/news/290450

Two Russian tankers carrying oil and diesel are bound for Cuba, one nearing U.S. military blockade The U.S. military presence in the Caribbean has cut off Havana’s main fuel routes. The ships' possible arrival will test the effectiveness of the embargo. theins.press/en/news/290433

Political prisoner Vladimir Osipov dies in a pretrial detention center following prison sentence for “spreading army fakes” Osipov complained of high blood pressure and asked to postpone his final statement, but the judge denied the request. theins.press/en/news/290428

Germany classifies data on airlines involved in the deportation of Russians “Publicly naming these airlines carries the risk that they will face public criticism and subsequently refuse to provide transportation services,” the Interior Ministry wrote. theins.press/en/news/290427

Russian Human Rights Council complains to Oscars and UNESCO over the film “Mr. Nobody Against Putin” According to Moscow, images of children seen in the Oscar-winning documentary were used without the consent of their parents or legal guardians. theins.press/en/news/290425

Polish court approves extradition to Ukraine of Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin, accused of illegal excavations in occupied Crimea Butyagin continued his work at the site of the ancient city of Myrmekion in Kerch after Russia's takeover in 2014. theins.press/en/news/290419

Betting on the Kurds: The U.S. is trying to use Kurdish forces in Iran against the ayatollahs Kurdish efforts are highly unlikely to prove decisive in Iran, but that does not mean the White House will refrain from trying to enlist the Kurds in its fight. theins.press/en/politics/29…

Eighteen oil tanks catch fire after drone attack on depot in Russia’s Krasnodar Region, Astra reports The Yugnefteprodukt oil depot in Labinsk, 435 miles from the front line in Ukraine, was attacked overnight on March 15-16. No casualties were reported. theins.press/en/news/290386

Ukraine agrees to EU-backed repairs of Druzhba pipeline to resume oil flows to Hungary and Slovakia The Soviet-era pipeline, damaged in a Russian strike on Jan. 27, is still used to transport Russian oil through Ukraine to Europe despite the ongoing war. theins.press/en/news/290377