BRUSSELS: Belgian authorities have taken control of an oil tanker believed to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet,” a network of ships allegedly used to bypass Western sanctions imposed after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prevot announced on Sunday that the vessel was stopped during a late-night operation in the North Sea. He praised the Belgian special forces for what he described as their outstanding professionalism and bravery in executing the mission.
According to AFP, Defence Minister Theo Francken confirmed that the tanker was being escorted to the port of Zeebrugge, where it will be formally impounded. Officials indicated that the ship may have been sailing under a false flag.
French President Emmanuel Macron said French naval units supported the interception, calling the action a significant setback for Russia’s efforts to maintain oil exports despite international restrictions.
Since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has relied on a fleet of older vessels with unclear ownership structures to continue selling crude oil abroad. The European Union has sanctioned hundreds of such ships in an attempt to curb revenue flows funding the war.
Prevot stressed that sanctions are effective only when actively enforced, noting that the coordinated operation involved Belgium’s G7 partners as well as Nordic and Baltic allies, in close cooperation with France.
