Russia’s shadow fleet poses a direct threat to Europe, says Tusk

In addition to the risks of accidents and oil spills, the ships of the so-called shadow tanker fleet of Russia often serve as platforms for launching reconnaissance drones.

The “shadow fleet” of the Russian Federation is not only a tool for financing war, but also a direct threat to European countries, given the launch of drones from the sides of such ships. This was warned by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, writes “Ukrinform”.

“This is not only about black business and financing of Russian aggression. This is also a direct threat to us, since there are signals that some drones, which were prepared for provocations against Polish oil platforms in the Baltic Sea, were launched from ships of the shadow fleet,” the politician said.

The head of the Polish government called on European states to be ready for tough measures against such ships and decisive action against them.

Meanwhile, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal called the tankers used by Russia to transport oil “a time bomb for the environment that could detonate at any moment.” Amid reports of oil spills in European waters, the summit participants stressed the risks of large-scale environmental incidents and the need for increased control.

In the context of sanctions pressure, it was mentioned that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia has formed a “shadow” fleet of more than 1,240 tankers to circumvent restrictions and continue selling oil. Over the past five years, Ukraine has arrested 68 such vessels, three of which have been seized since December 2024.

European leaders emphasize that effective countermeasures require coordinated action, from port inspections and strict compliance to sanctions against vessels, operators, and related services.

USM previously reported that the EU plans to revise maritime law to counter Russia’s “shadow fleet.”