shadow fleet

French authorities have detained two senior crew members of a Russian “shadow fleet” tanker suspected of involvement in launching drones in Denmark. This was reported by Le Monde. On October 1, Brest city prosecutor Stephane Kellenberger announced the launch of an investigation due to “lack of confirmation of the vessel’s belonging to a specific country” and…

French authorities are investigating a possible violation of sanctions by the Benin-flagged tanker Boracay, which is under British and EU sanctions.

In August 2025, tankers under EU, US and UK sanctions transported 43.6% of Russia’s seaborne oil.

The Comoros government has begun purging its international registry, whose flag has been central to the shadow fleet.

Despite numerous Western sanctions packages, Moscow has created a large-scale illegal maritime transportation system.

Brussels’ new measures also include sanctions against crypto exchanges, third-country banks and Chinese companies that help the Russian military-industrial complex.

Canberra has lowered the price ceiling for Russian oil to $47.60 per barrel and added 95 more ships to the sanctions list.

The document provides for measures against the “shadow fleet”, adjustment of the price ceiling for oil, secondary sanctions and port restrictions.

Tankers of the so-called “shadow fleet” are beginning to accumulate in the Gulf of Finland, which were heading to load at the Russian port of Primorsk. As a reminder, the port was attacked by Ukrainian UAVs on September 12.

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has called on the EU to find a coordinated approach against the Russian “shadow fleet” in the Baltic Sea.