{"id":37452,"date":"2026-08-03T00:55:22","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T00:55:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/37452\/"},"modified":"2026-08-03T00:55:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T00:55:22","slug":"italian-led-eu-force-boards-sanctioned-tanker-from-russias-shadow-fleet-in-mediterranean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/italy\/37452\/","title":{"rendered":"Italian-Led EU Force Boards Sanctioned Tanker From Russia’s ‘Shadow Fleet’ in Mediterranean"},"content":{"rendered":"

ROME, Aug 2 (Reuters) – An EU naval mission led \u2060by \u2060Italy boarded a tanker from \u2060Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” on Sunday, the second such operation in \u200bless than two weeks as Europe intensifies scrutiny of vessels suspected of helping Moscow circumvent oil \u200csanctions.<\/p>\n

Italy’s Defence Ministry said the Toa \u200cPayoh, a tanker subject to EU sanctions, was intercepted west of the Sicilian \u2060island of \u2060Pantelleria while sailing from Benin to Istanbul.<\/p>\n

The vessel had switched to a \u200bCameroon registry only last week, according to a source familiar with the operation. Maritime authorities launched the inspection to verify that the tanker was legally entitled to fly the Cameroon flag and \u200bthat its registration documents were valid.<\/p>\n

The source said the EU naval mission, named operation \u2060EUNAVFOR \u2060MED Irini, did not \u2060have the authority \u200bto seize vessels during such inspections, meaning the Toa Payoh was not detained.<\/p>\n

However, documentation \u200bgathered during the boarding \u2060was still being examined and could be used by national authorities for a subsequent sequestration if necessary.<\/p>\n

The Toa Payoh’s captain initially failed to cooperate with the EU mission, prompting a team of Italian military personnel to board the vessel from a helicopter launched by the \u2060Thaon di Revel, the EU’s EUNAVFOR MED’s flagship.<\/p>\n

The inspection, carried out with the \u2060support of a Greek vessel and a Polish maritime patrol aircraft, lasted about two hours and was completed safely, the ministry said.<\/p>\n

There was no immediate comment from Russia.<\/p>\n

Sunday’s operation follows the July 20 boarding of the MV South Star, another tanker linked to Russia’s shadow fleet that was inspected by Irini forces over suspicions it was sailing also under a false flag.<\/p>\n

The European Union has imposed sanctions on scores of vessels that it says form part of a “shadow \u2060fleet” used by Russia to circumvent restrictions on its oil exports since its invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n

EUNAVFOR MED Irini is an EU naval mission launched in 2020 to enforce a U.N. arms embargo on Libya. EU governments have since broadened \u200bits scope, authorising it to conduct verification boardings.<\/p>\n

(Reporting by Crispian Balmer; \u200bEditing by Kevin Liffey and Alex Richardson)<\/p>\n

Copyright 2026 Thomson Reuters.<\/p>\n

Photos You Should See \u2013 June 2026<\/p>\n

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