The EU has authorized the use of force to stop vessels belonging to Russia's shadow fleet
The European Union has moved from passive monitoring to physical checks and inspections of tankers belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet in the Mediterranean Sea.
The navies of the bloc’s member states have received official authorization to board suspicious civilian vessels.
A new phase in the fight against illegal maritime transport began following an official statement by European diplomatic leaders.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas announced the escalation of efforts against Russia’s shadow fleet to a new level before the start of the second day of the defense ministers’ meeting in Nicosia.
As part of Operation IRINI—the EU mission to ensure maritime security in the Mediterranean—the naval forces of member states have been granted the right to board vessels if there are reasonable grounds to suspect their identity or a violation of international norms.
Operation IRINI was established in 2020 under a UN mandate—initially to enforce the arms embargo on Libya. Subsequently, European institutions decided to adapt the mission to address current security challenges.
In 2025, its powers were expanded to include monitoring vessels that might be circumventing sanctions, particularly those transporting Russian oil. However, physical inspections did not begin until 2026.
The practical implementation of the new strict rules has already yielded the first significant results in international waters.
On June 1, an inspection team boarded the sanctioned tanker MV Oneiroi for the first time in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The vessel is subject to sanctions by the EU and Ukraine.
The special operation was based on reasonable suspicions that the crew was using a false flag and was directly involved in the illegal transport of Russian crude oil.
Prior to this, the mission was primarily limited to surveillance, radio checks, and inspections with the captains’ consent.
The Ukrainian side welcomed the change in tactics by its European partners, as the illegal export of fuel remains the main source of funding for the Kremlin’s military operations.
At the same time, Kyiv is calling for more decisive action in other strategic maritime areas.
“We have long been expecting clearer and more decisive action in this regard from the EU, as the activities of the Russian shadow fleet have been documented since 2023,” said Vladislav Vlasyuk, an adviser to the Office of the President of Ukraine.
Russia’s shadow fleet transports oil under false insurance policies – Bloomberg
As a reminder, France plans to significantly increase penalties for ship owners and operators who use false flags or ignore orders to stop.
Europe plans to discuss operational decisions regarding the introduction of the 20th package of sanctions against Russia to increase pressure on Moscow.
