Ukraine-Russia war latest: Belgium releases video showing forces boarding Russian shadow fleet oil tanker
Belgian forces seized a suspected Russian shadow fleet vessel in the North Sea with the help of the French navy on Sunday.
Defence minister Theo Francken said the oil tanker was thought to be sailing with a “false flag and false documents”.
The vessel, named Ethera, had long been on the US, EU, and UK sanctions list, and has since been escorted to the port of Zeebrugge.
“Without his shadow fleet Putin can’t wage war against innocent Ukrainians. So we take these vessels out. One by one. Till his war of aggression stops,” Mr Francken said.
Volodymyr Zelensky praised Belgium and French forces for the “decisive decision”, adding that “Russia operates like a mafia organisation, and the response must match that reality.”
Western sanctions imposed on Russia have led to the rise of a “shadow fleet” of tankers helping Moscow to keep its crude exports flowing.
Emmanuel Macron said the seizure, which was assisted by French navy helicopters, was a “major blow” to Russia’s fleet.
“Europeans are determined to cut off the sources of funding for Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine by enforcing sanctions,” the French president said.
