Denmark has reported that Russian tankers from a so-called “shadow fleet” navigated Danish waters almost daily in 2025, circumventing EU sanctions, according to the Danish Maritime Authority.
Data from the Authority shows that 292 voyages by EU-sanctioned tankers passed through Danish waters last year. These vessels, often ageing and poorly maintained, transport crude oil and refined products like gasoline and diesel, raising environmental concerns over potential oil spills.
The fleet is reportedly designed to evade Western sanctions imposed after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which targeted Moscow’s revenues from oil exports. Many sanctioned vessels have been shut out from Western insurance and shipping systems, prompting Russia to rely on ships of opaque ownership.
“The Danish authorities are closely monitoring ships in Danish waters and cooperate with like-minded countries in the Baltic Sea region. Concrete measures have been taken to strengthen maritime safety and protect the marine environment and seafarers,” the Maritime Authority said.
Experts and political leaders also suspect the fleet could be involved in sabotage, as part of Russia’s so-called “hybrid warfare” against the West. Notably:
- In Finland, three crew members from the Cook Islands-registered tanker Eagle S were accused in December 2024 of dragging the anchor across the seabed, damaging five undersea cables. A Helsinki court later dismissed the case, citing lack of jurisdiction.
- In January 2026, the French navy intercepted a sanctioned vessel believed to be a Russian oil tanker flying a false flag in the Mediterranean, with intelligence support from the UK.
The “shadow fleet” continues to raise concerns over environmental risks, maritime safety, and security, as sanctions enforcement struggles to keep pace with Russia’s evasive tactics.
