EU Launches Maritime Crackdown to Unveil Russia's Shadow Fleet: Sanctions Move Into Inspection Phase

In a strategic move marking a new phase in its ongoing economic confrontation with Moscow, the European Union is seeking to issue an unprecedented maritime declaration authorizing inspections of the so-called "shadow fleet" of Russian tankers. This initiative aims to cut off oil and gas revenues used by Russia to fund its military operations against Ukraine.

According to a document released by the European External Action Service, the EU is pushing for a collective maritime announcement that would formalize procedures allowing member states to inspect Russian oil tankers suspected of circumventing sanctions. This push comes in the wake of successful inspections carried out by France, Germany, Finland, and Estonia on vessels linked to Russia’s shadow fleet, rekindling momentum for stricter enforcement and oversight.

These measures coincide with efforts by the G7 to coordinate their actions and close loopholes exploited by Russia and certain countries that have increased their Russian oil imports in recent months. The EU estimates the shadow fleet consists of between 600 and 1,400 tankers; more than 400 vessels have already been sanctioned by Brussels, a figure set to climb to about 560 with the enforcement of the nineteenth sanction package.

The draft European declaration encourages bilateral agreements with flag states to allow EU inspection teams to board suspect tankers—even those flying foreign flags—subject to prior approval. Brussels is also working to strengthen coordination to combat the widespread issue of falsified registrations, which is a major factor facilitating the fleet’s evasion of sanctions.

Among the anticipated new penalties are advancing the full ban on Russian liquefied natural gas imports by one year to January 1, 2027, targeting tanker refueling services, and further expanding sanctions on entities enabling the shadow fleet’s operations.

These steps reflect the EU’s escalated commitment to curbing Moscow’s capacity to finance the war, highlighting Brussels and its Western partners’ determination to maintain economic pressure until their objectives—restoring international balance and ending the conflict in Ukraine—are achieved.