EU Forces Board Suspected Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker Off Sicily
EU naval forces boarded a suspected Russian shadow‑fleet tanker in the Mediterranean, revealing a false flag and prompting new sanctions.
POLICY WIRE — Sicily, Italy — EU naval forces boarded a suspected Russian shadow‑fleet tanker off the coast of Sicily, exposing a false flag and prompting new sanctions against Russia’s oil shipping network.
French officials reported intercepting the vessel near the island last week, marking the first confirmed seizure of a shadow fleet ship in the Mediterranean.
The incident follows a series of reports about Russia’s clandestine oil shipments, which the European Union says have violated international sanctions.
In response, EU leaders imposed additional sanctions on companies linked to the tanker’s operations.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)