Russia’s shadow fleet helps sustain Russian oil exports and the revenues financing its illegal war against Ukraine.   The French Navy’s boarding of the DF Peak in the Indian Ocean illustrates how those arrangements are facing increasingly direct enforcement measures.   The more these vessels face legal action, the harder it becomes for Russia to keep its oil exports operating outside of international oversight.

IRINI and European countries have inspected sanctioned vessels linked to Russia’s shadow fleet — ageing, opaquely owned tankers used to evade sanctions and transporting aboard individuals with links to the Russian private military groups. EUNAVFOR MED IRINI is the EU’s naval operation in the Mediterranean, monitoring shipping and carrying out boardings and inspections to help enforce international rules at sea. This is about protecting international security, seas, and environment.

Sanctions enforcement extends beyond ports. At sea, authorities verify documentation, vessel identity and flag status to ensure compliance with international and EU measures. During its latest Flag Verification Boarding, the EU’s Operation IRINI identified documentation inconsistencies that reinforced suspicions that the sanctioned MV SOUTH STAR was operating without nationality.