Russian Paramilitary Presence on Shadow Fleet Tankers Raises Suspicions
Representatives of Russian paramilitary formations are reportedly present aboard tankers belonging to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.” Specifically, individuals wearing uniforms are stationed on these vessels despite not being members of the crew. While they do not perform standard maritime duties, they appear to exercise a degree of authority on board, raising suspicions about their ties to Russian paramilitary organizations or intelligence services.
Many of these individuals are former military personnel, including veterans of the wars in Chechnya and Syria. Their reported responsibilities include ensuring that vessels do not deviate from assigned routes, even in contradiction to the captain’s orders or demands from NATO authorities, submitting daily reports on the condition of the vessel and crew behavior, and monitoring sailors’ conversations and contacts.
Shadow Fleet Operations: A Hybrid Strategy
Russia’s shadow fleet consists of approximately 1,500 aging oil tankers with opaque ownership structures that the Kremlin uses to export Russian oil in circumvention of European Union and U.S. sanctions. In an effort to cut off this source of war financing, the EU has continuously expanded its sanctions packages, placing dozens of such vessels on blacklists. Sanctions have targeted not only the tankers themselves but also foreign companies operating them.
European countries have increasingly deployed naval forces to inspect and detain shadow fleet vessels at sea. One notable case occurred in September 2025, when France seized the tanker Boracay. It later emerged that two Russian intelligence operatives were aboard the vessel. Both were employed by the private Russian company Moran Security Group. Their reported tasks included providing security for the vessel, monitoring the crew, and collecting intelligence.
The Strategic Importance of Russia’s Shadow Fleet
The presence of uniformed individuals aboard tankers who are not members of the crew but nonetheless wield authority underscores the strategic importance of the shadow fleet to the Kremlin. Russia employs these vessels not only to sustain oil exports but also to weaken the effectiveness of EU and U.S. sanctions. According to expert estimates, such schemes have generated approximately $25 billion in additional revenue for the Kremlin over the past two years.
Preserving energy export revenues enables Moscow to continue financing its war against Ukraine. Russia’s shadow fleet has evolved from an economic sanctions-evasion mechanism into an element of a broader Kremlin hybrid strategy that combines commercial shipping with intelligence-gathering and sabotage activities. Its operation allows Russia simultaneously to finance the war effort, circumvent international restrictions, and create new instruments of pressure against Europe.
Implications for International Maritime Practice and Safety
Granting authority to non-crew personnel that supersedes the decisions of a ship’s captain runs contrary to established principles of international maritime practice and maritime safety. Such arrangements undermine the chain of command aboard vessels and create additional risks for international maritime commerce.
For Europe, the activities of Russia’s shadow fleet represent a dual challenge. They not only erode the effectiveness of the sanctions regime but also pose a threat to the security of European airspace and territorial waters.
Original Article: Beyond Sanctions Evasion: The Intelligence and Security Dimension of Russia’s Shadow Fleet — Lansinginstitute