On Jan. 10, the U.S. Treasury announced fresh measures to deplete Russia's energy revenues, including on 183 vessels, largely oil tankers.

A fresh wave of U.S. sanctions against Russia’s oil industry threatened to disrupt global supplies, sending crude prices to their highest in more than four months.

Scott Bessent, Donald Trump’s nominee for Treasury secretary said he supports dialling up the sanctions on the Russian oil industry to end the war in Ukraine.

Oil settled near $79 a barrel — a five-month high — as a fresh wave of US sanctions against Russia’s energy industry threatened to crimp supplies from one of the world’s top producers.Most Read from BloombergThese Homes Withstood the LA Fires.

The Biden administration has imposed some of its toughest sanctions yet on Russia, in a move designed to hit Moscow's energy revenue that is fuelling its war in Ukraine. The measures target more than 200 entities and individuals ranging from traders and officials to insurance companies, as well as hundreds of oil tankers.

Energy producers have rushed to lock in oil prices since the United States announced its harshest sanctions yet on Russian energy trade on Friday, which sent oil prices surging to multi-month highs, market participants said.

Scott Bessent, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Treasury secretary, said he would support dialing up sanctions on the Russian oil industry to end the war in Ukraine.Most Read from BloombergThese Homes Withstood the LA Fires.

Oil prices slipped on Tuesday from the previous day's four-month highs but the market remained supported by continuing focus on the impact of new U.S. sanctions on Russian oil exports to key buyers India and China.

At least 65 oil tankers have anchored in various locations around the world, including off the coasts of China and Russia, since the US announced a new package of sanctions on January 10, Reuters reports.