Belgian armed forces boarded an oil tanker linked to Russia’s shadow fleet overnight, officials announced Sunday, March 1, 2026. The operation, dubbed “Blue Intruder,” comes as international scrutiny intensifies over efforts to circumvent sanctions imposed on Moscow.
Defense Minister Theo Francken revealed the action in a post on X, stating the tanker was intercepted with support from the French military. Francken described the team involved as “an extraordinarily courageous team of soldiers.”
Prime Minister Bart De Wever also praised the military’s “professional and resolute action” during the successful operation, and thanked French partners for their “valuable support.” “Belgium will always uphold international maritime law and resolutely respond to any violation of the safety of its territorial waters,” De Wever said in a statement on X.
The intervention follows a growing concern over the shadow fleet – a network of vessels used to obscure the origin and destination of Russian oil, often sailing under false flags to evade sanctions. More than 500 ships are believed to be part of the fleet, prompting Belgium to develop legislation allowing for the boarding of such vessels.
In January, France detained a tanker suspected of being part of the same shadow fleet, releasing it weeks later after the owner paid a fine of several million euros. This latest action by Belgian forces underscores a coordinated effort among European nations to enforce sanctions against Russia and disrupt its ability to finance the war in Ukraine.
Minister Francken also thanked Minister of Justice Annelies Verlinden, Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Prévot, and his French counterpart Catherine Vautrin for their contributions to the operation.
