EU Sends Warning To Russia As It Boards 'Shadow Fleet' Tanker
Russia's foreign ministry has dismissed accusations that Moscow operates a "shadow fleet" as "political fabrication."
On Friday, European forces apprehended a vessel suspected to be part of Russia's shadow fleet of oil tankers in the Mediterranean Sea, according to the European Union's top diplomat. Kaja Kallas, the EU's top diplomat, disclosed this development on Sunday. The ship, known as MV MIDAG, was found to be operating under a falsified flag according to naval forces.
Ship tracking data indicated the MV MIDAG was a crude oil tanker flying the flag of Zimbabwe. Publicly available data showed the ship's location northeast of Algiers, Algeria, at 7:30 a.m. ET on Sunday. Russia utilizes its shadow fleet of aging tankers and support vessels to bypass sanctions imposed on the Kremlin following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.
Russia is a significant oil exporter and relies heavily on oil revenue to sustain its economy, particularly as a substantial portion of government spending is allocated to the military. In July, the U.K. reported that a shadow fleet of over 700 vessels accounts for three-quarters of Russian-sanctioned oil, serving as a critical lifeline for Moscow amidst the escalating costs of the prolonged war against its neighbor.
Kallas announced that EU foreign ministers would vote on Monday to impose additional sanctions on Russia, targeting companies sustaining the shadow fleet. The EU aims to continue disrupting Russia's shadow fleet at sea and through diplomatic channels. This report is a breaking story and will be updated.
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