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Belgian armed forces, with support from France, have for the first time intercepted and taken control of a tanker from Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, escorting the vessel to the port of Zeebrugge for arrest.
The announcement was made by Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken on his X (Twitter) page.
Operation Blue Intruder
According to Francken, the mission—code-named Blue Intruder—was carried out within the past few hours. Belgian troops, supported by France’s defense authorities, boarded an oil tanker believed to belong to Russia’s shadow fleet.
“The ship is currently being escorted to Zeebrugge, where it will be seized. The operation was conducted by an exceptionally brave team of servicemen. Excellent work,” he said.
What Russia’s “Shadow Fleet” Is
The shadow fleet is a network of aging oil tankers with opaque ownership structures that Moscow allegedly uses to circumvent Western sanctions and the oil price cap. Such vessels often lack proper insurance and disable identification systems, posing significant environmental risks to coastal states along their routes.
Recently, countries of the European Union and the Group of Seven have intensified pressure on Russian tanker operations. Several European states, including Denmark, previously signaled plans to restrict passage of suspicious vessels through their territorial waters over concerns about oil spills and financing Russia’s war effort.
20th EU Sanctions Package
Ahead of the anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the European Commission unveiled a draft 20th sanctions package against Russia. The proposed measures aim to increase pressure on the Kremlin’s key revenue sources—energy and finance—and were intended for approval by Feb. 24 to demonstrate EU unity in supporting Ukraine.
A central element targets sanctions evasion tied to oil exports. Brussels is proposing a comprehensive ban on providing maritime services for transporting Russian crude. Particular focus is placed on the shadow fleet, with the blacklist of vessels expected to expand to 640 ships, sharply limiting their access to maintenance and logistics support.
Despite Brussels’ firm stance, intense debates continue within the bloc. Some member states are urging softer provisions, fearing economic fallout—especially clauses targeting foreign ports and banks in third countries that intelligence agencies say help Moscow bypass oil price restrictions.
