The EU Has Authorized The Boarding Of Vessels Belonging To Russia's Shadow Fleet
- 9.06.2026, 11:26
They will now be stopped by force.
The EU is shifting from monitoring to physical inspections of vessels belonging to Russia's shadow fleet in the Mediterranean Sea.
This was reported by RBC-Ukraine citing an advisor to the Office of the President of Ukraine Vladislav Vlasyuk.
The EU has authorized boarding operations
On June 8, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas announced, ahead of the second day of the defense ministers’ meeting in Nicosia, that the fight against Russia’s shadow fleet was moving to a new level.
As part of Operation IRINI—the EU mission to ensure maritime security in the Mediterranean — the naval forces of member states have been granted the right to board vessels if there are reasonable grounds to suspect their identity or a violation of international norms.
What is IRINI
Operation IRINI was established in 2020 under a UN mandate—initially to enforce the arms embargo on Libya.
In 2025, its mandate was expanded to include monitoring vessels that might be circumventing sanctions, particularly those transporting Russian oil. However, physical inspections did not begin until 2026.
On June 1, the inspection team boarded the sanctioned tanker MV Oneiroi for the first time in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The vessel is subject to EU and Ukrainian sanctions. The basis for this was suspicion regarding the use of a false flag and involvement in the transport of Russian oil.
Prior to this, the mission was primarily limited to surveillance, radio checks, and inspections with the captains’ consent.
Ukraine’s Response
“We have long been awaiting clearer and more decisive action in this regard from the EU, as the activities of the Russian shadow fleet have been documented since 2023,” said Vladislav Vlasyuk, an adviser to the Office of the President of Ukraine.
According to him, Ukraine supports the strengthening of practical measures and expects further expansion of sanctions regarding the maritime transport of Russian oil and petroleum products within the EU.
At the same time, according to Vlasyuk, the issue of transporting Russian oil via northern sea routes—from the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea through the Danish straits to the North Sea—remains unresolved.
Russia actively uses this route for oil exports, despite the efforts of certain countries. Since the beginning of the year, Sweden has detained four vessels, one of which may be transferred to Ukraine.