Belgian special forces, supported by French helicopters, boarded and seized an oil tanker suspected of being part of Russia's so-called “shadow fleet” in the North Sea on Saturday night. The vessel, identified as the Ethera, was sailing under the flag of Guinea, which prosecutors say was false.
Belgium’s defence minister, Theo Francken, confirmed the operation on Sunday, stating that the tanker was escorted to Zeebrugge harbour where it will be officially confiscated. The ship’s captain, a Russian citizen, is being questioned as part of a criminal investigation, and documents found on board are also suspected of being forged.
The seizure marks a hardening of European attitudes towards Russia’s shadow fleet, which uses often dilapidated tankers flying flags of convenience to transport Russian crude oil to destinations such as China and India, thereby circumventing western sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine. The oil is processed abroad and sold on international markets, no longer identified as Russian.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised Belgium for its “strong action against Moscow’s floating purse” and thanked France for its support. He noted that the vessel had long been under US, EU and UK sanctions but continued illegal transport using false flags and forged documents.
French President Emmanuel Macron called the seizure a “serious blow” to Russia’s shadow fleet, sharing footage of Belgian forces rappelling from helicopters onto the ship. The EU has warned that such vessels pose environmental risks and could be used for espionage or sabotage of underwater infrastructure.
