Belgium, with French Assistance, Seizes Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker

Belgian special forces, with support from France, intercepted and seized the oil tanker Ethera in the North Sea on March 1, 2026, as it was part of a fleet Russia uses to circumvent Western sanctions imposed due to the war in Ukraine. The operation represents a significant enforcement of sanctions against Russia’s efforts to continue exporting crude oil.

Interception and Seizure

The Ethera was intercepted during an overnight operation in the North Sea. Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot announced the interception on X (formerly Twitter), praising the “exceptional professionalism and courage” of the Belgian special forces . Defense Minister Theo Francken stated the tanker was being escorted to the port of Zeebrugge for seizure .

False Flag and Criminal Investigation

Prosecutors identified the vessel as the Ethera, which was reportedly on its way back to Russia. The tanker was flying the flag of Guinea, but an onboard inspection revealed suspicions that it was sailing under a false flag . Authorities have opened a criminal investigation after discovering “ship documents suspected of being falsified” . Sailing under a false flag violates several international regulations.

International Cooperation and Response

French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed French naval forces assisted in the operation, calling it a “major blow” to Russia’s “shadow fleet” . The operation was conducted in coordination with Belgium’s G7, Nordic, and Baltic partners .

Ukraine’s Reaction

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga welcomed the seizure, stating that “such resolute and justified actions are necessary to deprive Russia of the resources to continue its aggression and war crimes against Ukraine” . He called on partners to resolutely counter Russia’s shadow fleet through sanctions and concrete actions.

Russia’s Shadow Fleet

Russia has been utilizing a fleet of aging tankers with opaque ownership to bypass restrictions on its crude oil exports following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine . The European Union has blacklisted hundreds of these vessels in an attempt to weaken Moscow’s financial capacity to fund the war . Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Prévot emphasized that “sanctions only make sense if they are applied” .