A suspected Russian Shadow Fleet tanker. (symbol image)Image: keystone
Belgium says it hijacked an oil tanker from the Russian shadow fleet during the night.
03/01/2026, 06:2903/01/2026, 06:29
The Belgian armed forces had detained the ship with the support of France, wrote Belgium’s Defense Minister Theo Francken on Platform Francken initially did not provide any further information. There was initially no confirmation from France.
Belgium’s Prime Minister Bart de Wever congratulated the military on “the successful operation that night” on X, without specifically naming the event. He thanked France and added:
“Belgium will respect international maritime law and the security of its territorial waters.”
EU warns of dangers from shadow fleet
The shadow fleet refers to tankers and other cargo ships that Russia uses to avoid sanctions, for example when transporting oil. France now estimates the size of the fleet at 1,000 to 1,200 ships, of which 650 to 700 are subject to sanctions.
The EU has long been warning that Shadow Fleet ships can be used as a platform for launching drones for jamming or espionage attacks. (sda/dpa)