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EU Naval Forces Storm Suspected Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker in Mediterranean, Expose Fake Flag
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European Union naval forces boarded a tanker suspected of operating as part of Russia’s shadow fleet in the Mediterranean Sea, confirming that the vessel was sailing under a false flag, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced on November 15.
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The operation took place on November 13, when personnel from the EU’s naval mission IRINI boarded the tanker MV MIDAG to inspect its registration and determine whether it was operating under a legitimate national flag.
EU forces from @EUNAVFOR_MED IRINI boarded a suspected Russian shadow fleet tanker in the Mediterranean on 13 November.
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) November 15, 2026
The boarding, conducted under Article 110 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, confirmed the MV MIDAG was sailing under a false flag.
The EU will… pic.twitter.com/Emku8oRVNT
According to Kallas, the inspection was conducted under Article 110 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which permits warships to board foreign vessels on the high seas under specific circumstances, including reasonable suspicion that a ship is operating without valid nationality.
The boarding confirmed that MV MIDAG had been sailing under a false flag, reinforcing suspicions about its possible involvement in Russia’s shadow fleet operations.
Maritime tracking data from MarineTraffic showed that the tanker had departed from the Russian oil export port of Kozmino, near Nakhodka in Russia’s Far East, and was sailing under the flag of Zimbabwe.
Kallas said the European Union would continue taking action against Russia’s shadow fleet through both maritime enforcement operations and diplomatic measures.
Russia’s shadow fleet consists of tankers used to transport Russian oil while attempting to circumvent Western sanctions and restrictions on shipping and maritime services.
The boarding follows a similar operation in the Baltic Sea on October 31, when Swedish police, supported by an elite tactical unit, inspected a Russia-linked cargo ship near Gotland. The vessel was operated by a company previously investigated over suspected Russian intelligence activities and possible links to unidentified drone sightings across Europe.
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