Russia condemns EU plan to inspect oil shadow fleet
Russia has denounced an EU decision authorizing military vessels to inspect foreign ships suspected of transporting oil in the Mediterranean. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Moscow will use all legal and political instruments to protect the interests of shippers and shipowners.
Russia vowed to use political and legal instruments to protect oil tankers after the European Union authorized military inspections of "shadow fleet" vessels. The escalation follows an expanded mandate for Operation IRINI, a naval mission originally designed to enforce arms embargoes on Libya. For investors, the friction threatens to disrupt Mediterranean logistics for Brent Crude Oil and increases the risk of maritime confrontations.
### Moscow Rejects EU Maritime Authority Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described the EU decision as a flagrant violation of international law during a midday briefing on June 10. Zakharova argued the term "shadow fleet" is a political fabrication with no standing in global maritime regulations. She stated that deploying warships to seize or inspect civilian vessels constitutes a direct threat to maritime security.
