EU Ships Will Begin Inspecting Vessels of Russia’s Shadow Fleet in Mediterranean Sea

The European Union has expanded the mandate of the EUNAVFORMED IRINI naval operation and authorized the inspection of vessels linked to Russia’s shadow fleet.

This was announced by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas ahead of a meeting of EU defense ministers in Cyprus.

According to Kallas, the issue of countering the shadow fleet was one of the topics discussed during the meeting of European ministers. She noted that the EUNAVFORMED IRINI operation has changed its rules of engagement and is now beginning to inspect ships.

“Our IRINI operation has changed its rules of engagement, and we are now also beginning to inspect ships. This involves developing a common approach to how different countries deal with these vessels, as they pose a real danger. And, of course, the goal is to prevent Russia from financing the war,” Kallas stated.

The EU believes that the so-called shadow fleet helps Russia circumvent international sanctions and continue exporting oil and petroleum products. It typically includes old tankers with complex ownership structures that often use opaque insurance schemes and change their flags of registration.

The European Union launched the EUNAVFORMED IRINI naval operation in 2020 to monitor compliance with the UN arms embargo on Libya. Its tasks also include monitoring illegal oil shipments, combating smuggling, and controlling maritime routes in the central Mediterranean.

It should be noted that Russia deploys escort vessels to support its own shadow fleet. In January 2026, it was reported that Russia had dispatched a submarine to escort a shadow fleet tanker fleeing from a US ship.