Yesterday at 21:51
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that Russia’s shadow fleet is not only a means to finance its aggression but also a direct threat to European countries, citing evidence that drones have been launched from these vessels. He spoke during a press conference following the Eastern Flank Summit in Helsinki, UATV English reports.
“This is not just about black-market operations and funding Russian aggression. It is also a direct threat to us, as there are signals that some drones prepared for provocations against Polish oil platforms in the Baltic Sea were launched from shadow fleet ships,” Tusk said.
The Polish leader urged European countries to be ready to take strong measures against shadow fleet vessels and respond to any threats they pose.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Mihkel also commented, describing the ships Russia uses to transport oil as “a ticking environmental bomb that could explode at any moment.”
Shadow fleet tankers discharge oil into European waters despite sanctions and service bans, creating risks of major ecological disasters across the continent.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has seized 68 shadow fleet vessels, including three captured since December 2024. Overall, Russia has built a shadow fleet of over 1,240 tankers to bypass Western sanctions and continue selling oil.
This fleet not only undermines international sanctions but also poses security and environmental threats to Europe, highlighting the growing risks of Russia’s maritime operations.
