Photo: Marine Traffic
Russia’s Foreign Ministry has condemned the European Union’s decision to expand naval operations allowing military vessels in the Mediterranean to stop and inspect ships suspected of belonging to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.”
Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Moscow considers the move a threat to maritime security and accused Europe of intimidating civilian shipping. She added that Russia reserves the right to use “all available political, legal and other tools” to protect what it called the lawful interests of shipowners and operators.
Earlier, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced that the EU had expanded the mandate of Operation IRINI, the bloc’s naval mission in the Mediterranean. Under the updated rules, EU naval forces will be able to board and inspect vessels suspected of bypassing sanctions through Russia’s shadow fleet.
The shadow fleet has become a key mechanism for Russia to continue exporting oil despite Western sanctions, accounting for a significant share of its maritime shipments. Western analysts estimate it includes over a thousand tankers operating through complex ownership structures and non-transparent registration systems.
EU officials say tightening enforcement aims to reduce Russia’s oil revenues, which are considered critical for financing its war against Ukraine, while Moscow insists the measures violate international law and threaten global shipping stability.
