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UK, EU Discuss Seizing Russian ‘Shadow’ Ships
UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force considers joint tanker seizures to disrupt Russia’s 1,500-ship shadow fleet funding Putin’s war economy, amid cautious allied deliberations.
- At the Munich Security Conference, the Joint Expeditionary Force met as British Defense Secretary John Healey and Richard Knighton, head of Britain’s military, discussed seizing tankers linked to the shadow fleet.
- The shadow fleet, a group of about 1,500 tankers, has more than 600 vessels sanctioned by the EU, the UK and the U.S., with interdictions including the Marinera oil tanker seizure on Jan. 7 and France’s navy boarding a tanker on Jan. 22.
- Officials emphasized that flagging states that register vessels must understand that measures can follow, as last month, 14 European nations warned ships in the Baltic and North Seas must sail under a single state's flag.
- Interdictions have prompted concern in Moscow, with Russian officials privately demanding the U.S. stop, while allies signalled readiness to squeeze revenue funding Vladimir Putin’s war as his forces make steady gains in Ukraine.
- Some members expressed caution, saying "fear of escalation," while Estonia’s Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur noted more discussion is needed before any decision.
17 Articles
17 Articles
UK Leads European Push To Physically Seize Russia’s Shadow Oil Fleet
The United Kingdom has initiated discussions with European allies on the possible seizure of oil tankers linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” as part of broader efforts to tighten pressure on Moscow’s war economy. According to Bloomberg on February 14, UK Defense Secretary John Healey met with counterparts from Baltic and Nordic countries to explore legal and operational options for detaining vessels suspected of circumventing sanctions.…
The United Kingdom (UK), Nordic and Baltic states are considering a plan to seize tankers linked to Russia's "shadow fleet", Bloomberg reports, citing sources.
President Zelensky put into effect the decision of the National Security Council to impose sanctions against 91 naval vessels of Russia's “shadow fleet”.
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