EU authorizes Mediterranean naval mission to intercept suspected Russian shadow fleet tankers

European Union member states have authorized military vessels operating under the Mediterranean naval mission, Operation IRINI, to board and inspect foreign oil tankers suspected of being part of Russia’s “shadow fleet.”

The decision was announced by Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Operation IRINI—named after the Greek word for “peace”—is a military maritime mission launched by the European Union in 2020. The primary objectives established at its inception were to enforce the United Nations arms embargo on Libya using aerial, satellite, and maritime assets, combat oil smuggling, and prevent human trafficking.

The operation conducts its activities in the central Mediterranean.

Kallas detailed the policy shift in statements made ahead of an informal meeting of EU defense ministers in Cyprus.

According to statements released by the European External Action Service (EEAS) press unit, Kallas said: “We will also discuss the shadow fleet. Our Operation IRINI has changed its rules of engagement and now allows for the seizure of vessels. The aim is to change the field practices of different countries regarding interaction with these vessels, because this situation genuinely poses a danger.”

The 20th sanctions package adopted by the European Union this spring includes prohibitions on maritime services associated with Russian oil and imposes restrictive measures on tankers.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated that the new package of measures also foresees the possibility of introducing a complete ban on the maritime transit of Russian energy resources.

The Moscow administration, conversely, characterizes the sanctions as illegal. Russian officials have previously issued warnings that retaliatory measures would be taken if military assets are deployed to seize vessels.

In a statement released at the end of March, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs asserted that EU countries were engaging in “piracy on the high seas” under the pretext of the “shadow fleet” term by stopping vessels they believe to be associated with the transport of Russian cargo and redirecting them to their own ports. The ministry pointed out that no such concept exists in international maritime law.

Nikolay Patrushev, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation and Chairman of the Maritime Board, also stated that European Union countries fabricated the concept of a “shadow fleet” to engage in piracy along maritime trade routes.