Germany says a Panamanian-flagged oil tanker, Eventin, is stuck in its waters and linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet”, which Berlin accuses of avoiding sanctions. The vessel, carrying 99,000 tonnes of oil, lost power and steering, prompting tugboats to secure it.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock blamed Moscow, accusing Vladimir Putin of “circumventing” sanctions and threatening European security by deploying a fleet of ageing tankers. The US, UK, and EU have imposed sanctions on Russia’s oil industry since 2022.
The CCME said the vessel was drifting at a low speed in the Baltic Sea, north of the German island of Rügen. A four-person team was lowered onto the vessel to establish towing connections, which were secured by three tugboats. Maritime authorities reported no oil leaks and said the convoy would arrive in Sassnitz early on Sunday.
The incident comes as Western countries step up efforts to hit Russia’s oil industry with sanctions, including measures targeting “Russia’s shadow fleet”, which threatens security and the environment. The EU has already imposed sanctions on Russian ships involved in damaging undersea cables in the Baltic Sea.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czdlp67rvd1o