Kallas: ‘We’re turning up the pressure on Russia’s shadow fleet’

On 20 July, the forces of the EU Operation EUNAVFORMED IRINI boarded the oil tanker MV SOUTH STAR for flag verification, suspected of sailing under a false flag in breach of international maritime law, the EU High Representative Kaja Kallas announced on 22 July. 

“We’re turning up the pressure on Russia’s shadow fleet,” Kallas posted on X. “Every illicit voyage helps sustain Russia’s war machine. We are matching our sanctions with action at sea.”

In parallel, Member States this week have authorised Operation EUNAVFOR ATALANTA to begin conducting flag verification boardings of suspected Russian shadow fleet vessels, in the same way Operation IRINI does. This decision further tightens the net.

The new Operation, named EUNAVFOR MED IRINI (Greek for “peace”) was launched on 31 March 2020 under EU Council Decision 2020/472, with four original tasks: Countering Illegal Arms Trafficking (CIAT), Gathering information on oil smuggling (GIOS) including illicit exports of petroleum, crude oil and refined petroleum products, Contributing to the disruption of the Human Smuggling Business Model (HSBM) through information gathering and monitoring and Capacity Building and Training (CB&T) of Libyan institutions responsible for law enforcement and Search and Rescue at sea, aimed at supporting peace and stability in Libya.

EUNAVFOR ATALANTA plays a vital role in the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy and the EU’s Naval Diplomacy for the Indo-Pacific. Since 2008, it has supported the Coastal States in the combined effort for peace, stability and Maritime security.

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Kaja Kallas post on X