The European Union’s naval forces are expanding operations against the “shadow fleet” of vessels allegedly linked to Russia and operating under false flags, following the interception and boarding of another oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea.
Sea-news.az reports that Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, shared the update in a post on her official X (formerly Twitter) account.
On August 30, the EU’s Operation IRINI naval forces boarded the oil tanker MV SUN in the Mediterranean. The vessel is suspected of sailing under a false flag in violation of international maritime law, with the inspection carried out to verify the authenticity of its registry.
The MV SUN marks the sixth vessel belonging to the “shadow fleet” intercepted and inspected by EU forces in recent months. The broader issue of combating sanction-evading maritime transport will be a central topic of discussion at the EU defense ministers’ summit opening in Ireland on September 1.
