Russian shadow fleet tankers receive warnings from 14 European countries

According to Ukrinform, Bloomberg stated this in an article, citing a joint statement by the group of countries located along key waterways, including Sweden, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

According to the signatories, vessels may sail only under the flag of a single state and must, among other requirements, carry valid safety and insurance documentation.

Tankers that fail to meet these requirements will be treated as "stateless vessels."

It is noted that the so-called shadow fleet consists of around 1,500 tankers transporting Russian, Iranian, and Venezuelan oil worldwide.

These vessels are typically older than standard ships and often use false flags to appear legitimate while disregarding international regulations.

By designating such tankers as "stateless vessels," European countries can expand their ability to intervene in their operations.

This statement by European countries partially formalizes actions taken by several European states in recent weeks, thereby increasing pressure on vessels that are crucial to Russian oil exports.

The 14 countries also separately accused Russia of interfering with satellite positioning and navigation systems, posing a threat to international shipping.

As previously reported, on January 22 French President Emmanuel Macron said that the French Navy had seized an oil tanker traveling from Russia that was subject to international sanctions.