France’s Detention of Russian ‘Shadow’ Tanker: A New Strategy in the Ukraine War?
France stopped a Russian “shadow” tanker named Boracay on September 27, detaining the Chinese captain and first mate. Tracking reports now suggest the tanker has resumed its voyage since then.
As the war in Ukraine lingers on with no end in sight, Europe is growing increasingly frustrated with Russia. The recent diplomatic failure at the Alaska summit to resolve the conflict via dialogue and alleged Russian drone incursions in Poland have only made the situation more precarious in a continent that now fears the cessation of continental peace established since 1945.
France’s brief detention of the Russian “shadow” tanker may be seen as a new EU strategy to pressure Russia into ending its war in Ukraine by blocking its oil exports that generate revenue for the war.
Origins of the Russian Shadow Fleet
The origins of the Russian shadow fleet can be understood against the backdrop of the unanimous imposition of sanctions by the US, the UK, and the EU in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in September 2022 to cap the price of Russian oil and petroleum products. To evade the sanctions, Russia developed a complex web of uninsured vessels to export its oil and petroleum products. Though initially unnoticed, the operations of these vessels were eventually traced by the EU following major maritime incidents that caused environmental damage in the Black and the Aegean Sea.
European Response: Disrupting and Deterrent Measures
By late 2023, however, the Russian shadow fleet had become a major nuisance for European states due to its efficiency in evading sanctions. This prompted many EU states, including Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, and the Nordic states to cooperate to “disrupt and deter” the Russian fleet. This joint initiative culminated in the confiscation of a Russian vessel Eventin roaming in German waters in early 2024.
The Dread of Drones: Escalating Tensions
The grim situation in Europe escalated further on September 9, 2023, after a two-dozen alleged Russian drones entered Polish airspace via Belarus. In response, Poland invoked Article 4 of NATO, which obligates member states to bring any issue concerning security for discussion. Another major escalation happened on September 22 and 28 when Denmark observed an unmanned aircraft on reconnaissance. The incident resulted in the shutdown of the Copenhagen Airport and the Danish airspace.
These incidents provoked a strong NATO and EU response. This involved a tough stance on Russian shadow fleet vessels roaming in EU waters. The fleet is alleged to have been involved in assisting Russian drone incursions in Poland and Denmark. Therefore, on October 2, 2023, a Russian oil tanker intercepted by the French authorities near the coast of western France was detained on suspicion of launching drones on EU territory due to its proximity to Denmark on the day of the incident.
The Detention: A New Front in the War?
The ship, flying with no flag, set out from Saint Petersburg in Russia and was headed towards Vadinar in India, carrying 750,000 barrels of crude oil. The French authorities took the ship’s captain, a Chinese national, into custody for “failing to prove the nationality of the vessel” and “refusal to cooperate.” The French president Emmanuel Macron said that he could not rule out the connection between the vessel and the drone incursions in Denmark that forced the closure of Copenhagen Airport.
Original Article: What Does France’s Incursion on Russian Shadow Tanker Mean for the War in Ukraine — Thediplomaticinsight