Russian shadow fleet

Russian shadow tanker Unity held in Murmansk over unpaid crew wages

Russian sailors are reporting that their employer has failed to pay them, prompting authorities in the port of Murmansk to detain the tanker Unity, which operates under the flag of Lesotho and is part of the Kremlin’s so-called shadow fleet, The Moscow Times reported on Sept. 1.

2 September 2025, 02:10 PM

Finland charges crew of Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tanker over Baltic Sea cable damage

Finland’s prosecutor’s office has charged crew members of the Russian “shadow fleet” vessel Eagle S with sabotage and gross disruption of telecommunications, Finnish outlet Yle reported on Aug. 11.

11 August 2025, 06:56 PM

Sweden and Denmark begin inspecting Russian tankers — Foreign Policy

Sweden and Denmark have joined Germany in requiring insurance documentation from tankers transiting their territorial waters in the Baltic Sea — a move aimed at curbing the operations of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, the industry outlet Enkorr.ua reported on July 7, citing Foreign Policy.

7 July 2025, 03:33 PM

Cyber Atesh group hacks and reveals Russian ‘shadow fleet’ escort records

The Cyber Atesh partisan movement has gained access to classified documents from Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, offering a rare glimpse into the internal operations of the aggressor state’s navy, the group claimed on July 7.

7 July 2025, 12:34 PM

Explosion in the Mediterranean: Ukraine’s HUR details fire aboard Russian shadow fleet tanker — photos

The Vilamoura tanker, which suffered an explosion in its engine room, had been repeatedly used to illegally transport petroleum products from Russian ports in violation of sanctions, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry intelligence agency (HUR) said on July 1.

1 July 2025, 12:28 PM

EU to shut backdoor: Commission moves to fully block Russian oil

The European Commission has proposed a ban on the purchase of oil products made from Russian crude as part of its 18th sanctions package against Russia, Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SZR) reported on June 12.

12 June 2025, 05:11 PM

Russia uses warships to protect shadow fleet, Finland says

Russia has begun providing military escorts for tankers from its shadow fleet in the narrow waters of the Gulf of Finland, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen said on May 27 during a broadcast on national outlet Yle.

27 May 2025, 01:40 PM

Lithuanian president: Russia escalating tensions in Baltic Sea, targeting Estonia

Russia is deliberately escalating tensions in the Baltic Sea and trying to retaliate against Estonia following recent incidents involving Moscow’s so-called “shadow fleet,” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said in an interview with Žinių radijas, as reported by Delfi on May 20.

20 May 2025, 05:50 PM

Estonia confirms new EU sanctions to raise costs for Putin’s war

The European Union will adopt its 17th sanctions package against Russia on May 20, focusing on Moscow’s shadow fleet and energy revenues, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna announced on X.

20 May 2025, 10:12 AM

New EU sanctions package to hit Russia next week

The 17th package of EU sanctions against Russia will be finally approved on May 20 at an EU Council meeting in Brussels, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told ZDF on May 15.

16 May 2025, 08:00 AM

Russian Su-35 violates Estonian airspace amid shadow fleet tanker clash

A Russian Su-35 fighter jet violated Estonian airspace for nearly one minute on May 13, as the Estonian navy attempted to stop the Russia-bound Jaguar tanker, part of Moscow’s shadow fleet, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna has said, according to Reuters.

15 May 2025, 07:05 PM

Von der Leyen confirms 17th EU sanctions package against Russia

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that the European Union has agreed on its 17th package of sanctions against Russia, she wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on May 14.

14 May 2025, 12:29 PM

UK Prime Minister Starmer announces largest sanctions package against Russia

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced the largest sanctions package to date targeting Russia, the aggressor state. In a post on X, Starmer said the threat Russia poses to Britain’s national security must not be underestimated.

9 May 2025, 03:16 PM

UK hits Putin’s shadow oil jugular

Britain is to announce its biggest ever sanctions package targeting up to 100 oil tankers of Russia’s shadow fleet, ramping up pressure on Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and protecting UK and European critical national infrastructure, according to a Cabinet press release published on May 9.

9 May 2025, 10:40 AM

Hungary okays EU’s 17th sanctions package against Russia, approval likely in May

Hungary is not blocking the European Union’s 17th sanctions package against Russia, potentially allowing its formal approval in May 2025, European Pravda reported on May 8, citing EU diplomats in Brussels.

8 May 2025, 07:25 PM

Estonia not planning to release Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tanker without reinspection

Estonian authorities said they do not intend to release the Russian-linked tanker Kiwala, currently detained in the Baltic Sea and identified as part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” until a follow-up inspection is completed, Estonia’s public broadcaster ERR reported on April 17.

17 April 2025, 12:44 PM

Germany seizes tanker from Russia’s shadow fleet

The German government has seized an oil tanker belonging to Russia’s covert “shadow fleet” — along with its valuable cargo — sending a strong message to Moscow, Der Spiegel reported on March 21.

22 March 2025, 07:15 AM

Russian ‘shadow fleet’ operators relocate to UAE to dodge sanctions

About 60 companies operating Russia's "shadow fleet" of oil tankers have moved their registration to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to evade Western sanctions, the Finnish newspaper Yle reported on March 3.

3 March 2025, 12:17 PM

Latvia links Baltic cable damage to Russian shadow fleet sabotage

Latvia suspects that vessels from Russia’s shadow fleet may have been involved in damaging an undersea Latvian optical fiber cable in the Baltic Sea, according to Ukrinform, citing Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže.

27 January 2025, 03:56 PM

Russian shadow fleet

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