The Shadow Ship: The Angara’s Cargo Runs Amid Sanctions and Concerns in China.

In August 2023, a Russian cargo ship known as the Angara completed at least eleven transports between ports in North Korea and Russia. Satellite images suggest that the ship may have been transporting weapons from North Korea to Russia. The vessel, subject to US sanctions, was observed at China’s Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard for repairs or maintenance prior to its arrival in China.

The Angara’s transponder, part of the AIS system that shares navigation and identification information, was briefly switched on as it traveled through the Korean Strait towards China. Prior to arriving in China for repairs in February, the Angara had docked in North Korean and Russian ports with its transponder off. After China, the ship stopped shipping activities.

The US imposed sanctions on the Angara in May 2022, and since August 2023, it has been engaged in transport activities between North Korean and Russian ports. The ship’s movements have been tracked by Rusi using open-source data. The US has raised concerns with Chinese authorities about the Angara’s presence in a Chinese port amid ongoing tensions with Russia.

China’s position on supporting Russia is likely to be discussed during a visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Beijing. The Chinese embassy in Washington expressed opposition to unilateral sanctions but stated that it was not informed about the details of the Angara. China’s Foreign Ministry also denied having any information on the matter, along with the Russian Foreign Ministry and Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard.

Efforts by Ukraine and its allies to disrupt military and economic support to Russia through sanctions have been ongoing