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.

Source: The Irish Times March 01, 2026 22:49 UTC