European Countries Hit Russia's "shadow Fleet"

• 18.01.2026, 12:30

Unprecedentedly harsh measures are being taken.

European countries have started taking tough measures against Russia's "shadow fleet" as well as its partners. This is aimed at strengthening control over maritime transportation and compliance with the sanctions regime.

This is reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Analysts in their report mentioned recent publications of Ukrainian and world media on this topic. Among them are Bloomberg, the Ukrainian website Militarny and others.

In particular, they mention that back on January 16, an oil tanker called Arcusat, turned from its course between Denmark and Sweden into German waters to sail north to Russia's Arctic coast.

According to Bloomberg, the tanker was sailing under various flags, including those of Tanzania and Cameroon.

The German Federal Police, however, refused to allow the ship's crew to enter the country's territorial waters.

In the meantime, it has been reported that another vessel is likely to be the Turkish bulk carrier Hizer Reis.

"European countries appear to be increasingly cracking down on vessels linked to Russia and its allies, whose 'shadow fleets' are often intertwined," analysts said.

Dozens of "shadow fleet" tankers off the coast of Venezuela have reportedly switched to Russian flags in recent months, and many Russian-linked "shadow fleet" vessels are under sanctions for carrying cargoes in support of the Iranian regime.