The EU is developing a plan for the fight against the shadow fleet of Russia, which cuts underwater cables. Mass arrests of ships are planned - Politico

The EU countries, located in the Baltic region, intend to tighten measures against the shadow fleet of Russia. The Politico publication learned that a plan of struggle is being developed, which includes mass arrests of tankers transporting oil in the Baltic Sea. In parallel, Europeans develop new legislation to create a legal basis for these arrests.

Journalists refer to information from two diplomats of the European Union and two government officials. Among the proposals under consideration - the use of international law to detain courts on environmental or pirate grounds. Also, countries can act independently by introducing national laws for the seizure of Russian courts in the open sea.

Officials refer to the frequent cases with damage to underwater cables, as well as to the absence of insurance in part of the Russian shadow fleet, according to which shipowners would be responsible for possible spills of oil products. And the risk of spills is significant - almost the entire shadow fleet consists of old ships, many of which were supposed to go to the scrap , but were redeemed for Russia. And this fleet continues to grow.

“About 50% of Russian oil sanctions goes through the Gulf of Finland,” said Margus Tsakhkna, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia. - There are environmental threats, there are attacks on our underwater infrastructure. Now the question is: what can we do with these courts? We cannot block the whole sea, but we can take control of more processes. We have many opportunities. ”

The Baltic Sea plays a key role in illegal oil trade: tankers load Russian oil in ports like Ust-Luga near St. Petersburg, then follow through the Gulf of Finland, Baltic and go to the North Sea, and from there to the world ocean. In 2023, 348 ships of the shadow fleet left the Baltic ports, providing 40% of Russian oil sales - which is equivalent to about a third of the Russian annual budget.