Ships of the “Shadow Fleet” Flying the rf’s Flag Are Scaling up Hybrid Threats to Europe

The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine has received information about the kremlin’s plans to increase the number of tankers transporting oil under the rf’s flag. This decision is dictated by the increasingly frequent cases of detentions of tankers belonging to russia’s “shadow fleet” by European countries and the United States.

Besides, this may indicate cooperation between russia and Iran in coordinating the safe passage of ships belonging to the “shadow fleet” through the zone of military conflict in the Middle East.

The federal autonomous institution “russian maritime register of shipping” (under EU sanctions) plans to identify and inspect about 80 tankers in the near future in order to re-register them.

The distribution of tankers by country of registration of shipowners is as follows: Seychelles – 35 vessels, China – 23 vessels, Azerbaijan – 13 vessels, and Samoa – 8 vessels. Besides, there are tankers belonging to shipowners registered in Vietnam, India, the UAE, and the Marshall Islands.

The increase in the “shadow fleet” under the rf’s flag automatically makes it easier for russia to deploy russian secret services agents on them for further reconnaissance and sabotage activities against Western countries. This is especially relevant in the Baltic region, through which more than 40% of russian oil exports are transported by sea.

The registration of tankers under the russian flag ultimately “gives the kremlin free rein” to use such vessels as a tool for hybrid threats against Europe and other Western countries.

Note:

this is precisely the tactic used by the kremlin in January 2026 with regard to the tanker “BELLA 1” (IMO 9230880), which was transporting oil on behalf of Iran and Venezuela. This “shadow fleet” vessel received russian registration immediately after it was exposed for flying a false Guyanese flag.