Italian military claims to have intercepted a Russian "shadow fleet" tanker in the Mediterranean
Xinhua News Agency, Rome, August 2 - The Italian Ministry of Defense stated on the 2nd that the Italian Navy, conducting a long-term EU military operation in the Mediterranean, intercepted a sanctioned Russian "shadow fleet" tanker on the same day.
The Italian Ministry of Defense said in a statement that the sanctioned tanker was intercepted in the waters west of Pantelleria in the Mediterranean. The captain of the tanker refused to cooperate, and an Italian military team conducted a boarding inspection. The operation was supported by a Greek naval vessel and a Polish maritime patrol aircraft.
The statement noted that the ship was flying the flag of Cameroon, had departed from the port of Cotonou, Benin, on July 16, and was headed for Istanbul, Turkey. The information and documents obtained during the boarding inspection are currently under review.
Western countries accuse Russia of using tankers and other commercial vessels to evade Western sanctions, referring to these commercial vessels as the "shadow fleet."
The Italian Navy intercepted a sanctioned Russian oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea on August 2. The tanker, which refused to cooperate during inspection, was supported by a Greek naval vessel and a Polish maritime patrol aircraft. It was flagged under Cameroon and had departed from Benin, heading to Istanbul.
- Italian Navy intercepted a Russian oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea.
- The tanker was under EU sanctions and refused to cooperate during inspection.
- The operation was supported by a Greek naval vessel and a Polish maritime patrol aircraft.
- The tanker was flagged under Cameroon and was en route from Benin to Istanbul.
- Western countries accuse Russia of using commercial vessels to evade sanctions.