EU forces board suspected Russian shadow fleet tanker in Mediterranean, Kallas says

On November 13, European naval forces boarded a suspected Russian shadow fleet tanker, the MV MIDAG, in the Mediterranean Sea, according to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. The operation, part of the EU's Operation IRINI, aimed to disrupt Russia's shadow fleet network, a system of tankers used to transport oil while evading Western sanctions.

The tanker was sailing under a falsified flag, registered to Zimbabwe through ship-tracking website MarineTraffic. The EU committed to continuing its efforts to disrupt the shadow fleet both at sea and through diplomatic means, as stated by Kallas. The boarding was conducted under Article 110 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which allows for the inspection of ships under certain conditions.

The MV MIDAG was confirmed to be sailing under a false flag during the boarding. EU Foreign Ministers are scheduled to approve further Russia sanctions, including those targeting banks, buyers, and companies supporting the shadow fleet, on November 16. The EU has been increasingly targeting vessels suspected of being part of the shadow fleet, with a notable example being the boarding of the MV Sun in August to verify its flag.

Russia's shadow fleet has played a significant role in the Kremlin's ability to finance its war against Ukraine. As of May 2026, the Ukrainian government's register identified 1,404 vessels as part of Russia's shadow fleet.