© Theo Francken / X The ship is a part of the shadow fleet and has been subject to penalties since October.
Belgium has taken control of a Russian oil tanker linked to the shadow fleet, as stated by Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken.
“In recent hours, our military forces, aided by the French Defense Ministries, have boarded an oil tanker that is part of Russia’s shadow fleet,” Franken announced in an X post on Sunday.
He further mentioned that the vessel is being escorted to the port of Zeebrugge, where it will be impounded.
RTBF reported the seizure of the tanker Ethera, citing sources, overnight. According to the report, the ship, sailing under a Guinean flag, was en route from the English Channel but was intercepted near the coast of Ostend.
The Belgian Defense Minister verified the apprehension as part of Operation Blue Violator.
Photo by Theo Francken / X
Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever indicated that the country will always uphold international maritime law and will firmly address any breach of the security of its territorial waters. He expressed gratitude to the military and French partners for carrying out the operation.
Justice Minister Anneliese Verliden stated that the tanker was stopped “based on information that identified it as operating under a false flag and belonging to a shadow fleet.”
RTBF points out that the vessel seized by Belgium has been on a European list of ships whose activities should be “restricted” since October 2025 because they “are a component of a collection of clandestine oil tankers or contribute to Russia’s energy income.” Among the restrictions is a prohibition on entry to European harbors.
In the morning, Franken added on X that while Belgium may be a small nation, it is a founding member of NATO and takes its duty seriously.
“Without his shadow fleet, Putin cannot continue his war against innocent Ukrainians. Therefore, we are dismantling these ships. One by one. Until his aggressive war ceases,” he stated.
Russia’s “shadow fleet” is composed of approximately 1,500 tankers that transport oil from Russia, Iran, and Venezuela across the globe. The majority of these ships are outdated and frequently employ false flags to conceal their routes and give an illusion of legitimacy. Most of these vessels are facing sanctions, but Russia’s oil earnings continue to be a key revenue source for Moscow, enabling it to sustain its war against Ukraine.
Concurrently, the Russian economy commenced 2026 with unprecedented inflation, arrests of oil tankers, and a historic downfall in budget revenues. Economist Alexei Plastun, in his article “Tankers in Captivity, Budget at the Bottom. How 2026 Started for the Russian Economy,” argues that oil and gas incomes have plummeted to their lowest level since 2020, the credit bubble is about to burst, and the construction sector is bracing for widespread bankruptcies.