Belgium seized an oil tanker belonging to the Russian shadow fleet on Sunday. “Over the past few hours, our armed forces, with the support of the French Defence, have boarded an oil tanker belonging to the Russian shadow fleet,” said Francken in an X post early on Sunday. Shadow fleet vessels typically have opaque ownership structures and have raised concerns about possible environmental risks, with poorly regulated, ageing tankers prone to spills, mechanical failures, and leaks, threatening marine ecosystems. “Without his shadow fleet, Putin can’t wage war against innocent Ukrainians. “We urge all partners to follow this example, counter Russia’s shadow fleet resolutely through sanctions and concrete action, and advance peace through strength,” he said in a post on X.
