In a startling revelation, Denmark’s Maritime Authority disclosed that tankers from Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” traversed the nation’s waters nearly every day in 2025. This data, shared on Wednesday, indicates that there were 292 instances involving tankers designated under EU sanctions navigating through Danish waters.
This shadow fleet has been assembled by Russia to evade sanctions imposed by the European Union, the United States, and the G7 nations in response to the Kremlin’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. These sanctions aim to curtail the revenue flow to Moscow that funds its military operations.
Impact of sanctions on maritime operations
The sanctions have effectively barred many vessels transporting Russian oil from accessing Western insurance and shipping services. As a result, a fleet of aging oil tankers with unclear ownership has emerged, primarily transporting crude oil and refined products such as gasoline and diesel. This situation raises potential environmental concerns, particularly regarding the risk of oil spills.
While the precise scale and movements of this clandestine fleet remain challenging to ascertain, Danish authorities have utilized the EU sanctions list to track and document these vessels entering its waters last year. Currently, there are 598 vessels identified on the EU’s blacklist, prohibiting their entry into European ports and maritime services.
Monitoring and maritime safety measures
The Danish Maritime Authority emphasized its commitment to closely monitor shipping activities within its waters. They have confirmed ongoing collaboration with other nations in the Baltic Sea region to enhance maritime safety and environmental protection.
“The Danish authorities are closely monitoring ships in Danish waters and also cooperate closely with like-minded countries in the Baltic Sea region,”
In addition to these monitoring efforts, various concrete measures have been implemented to bolster maritime safety and safeguard the marine environment and seafarers. Experts and political leaders have raised suspicions that some of these vessels may engage in acts of sabotage as part of a larger “hybrid war” strategy employed by Russia against Western nations.
Recently, in Finland, three crew members from the Cook Islands-registered ship, Eagle S, were implicated in an incident where the vessel allegedly dragged its anchor across the seabed in the Gulf of Finland, causing damage to five undersea cables. However, a Helsinki court dismissed the case, citing jurisdictional limitations.
In a related incident, the French navy intercepted a sanctioned vessel believed to be a Russian oil tanker operating under a false flag in the Mediterranean Sea, highlighting the ongoing complexities and challenges of monitoring maritime activities linked to Russia’s shadow fleet.