Northern European nations have pledged to escalate their offensive against Russia’s clandestine network of oil tankers, known as the ‘shadow fleet,’ which enables Moscow to circumvent Western sanctions. The commitment was solidified during a high-level meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force in Finland on Thursday, coinciding with reports that a suspected shadow tanker approaching the Black Sea was struck by a naval drone.
This shadow fleet comprises aging vessels typically acquired by obscure entities based in non-sanctioning countries, serving as Russia’s primary mechanism for exporting oil and petroleum products that fund its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced enhanced measures authorizing British forces to board these sanction-evading tankers transiting through UK waters, aligning with similar actions taken by allied nations.
‘We must collectively sever critical maritime routes supporting this vital trade to maintain pressure on President Putin and alter the war’s trajectory,’ Starmer declared alongside regional partners. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reinforced this urgency in a video address, emphasizing that ‘Russia’s oil and gas exports are financing its campaign to subjugate Ukraine,’ and urging continued pressure to ensure these vessels ‘feel unsafe in European waters.’
The geopolitical tensions manifested physically when the Altura tanker—carrying 140,000 tonnes of crude oil—was attacked approximately 14 nautical miles north of the Bosphorus Strait. Turkish officials confirmed the vessel sustained damage to its bridge and engine room from an unmanned sea vessel, though all 27 crew members escaped unharmed. The Altura, owned by Turkey-based Pergamon Maritime since November, has been under EU sanctions since October for transporting Russian oil in violation of restrictions.
While no party claimed immediate responsibility, historical precedents suggest Ukrainian involvement. Ukraine’s military has previously acknowledged using naval drones to target Russian vessels in the Black Sea, including a recent incident where a Russian-flagged LNG tanker was sunk off Libya’s coast.