Russia uses its clandestine "shadow fleet" as a platform for unleashing drone attacks on European countries from the Black sea, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said, citing an intelligence briefing.
“Currently, Russians are using tankers not only to earn money for the war, but also for reconnaissance and even sabotage activities. It is entirely possible to stop this,” Zelenskiky said after a briefing from his foreign intelligence chief, Oleh Ivashchenko. “Recent cases of drones being launched from tankers are one such example. We are sharing this information with partners and it is important that their response to Russia be real," Zelenskiy said.
His remarks follow a number of incidents involving the breach of airspace of several European countries last month and the drone sightings of Nordic countries of Denmark and Norway two weeks ago. NATO announced reinforcement of its military presence in the Baltic region on September 27 after drone sightings over airports and strategic military facilities in Denmark. Danish police have not ruled out that a shadow fleet ship, Boracay, was involved in incursion into Denmark's airspace with drones. The ship was subsequently intercepted and boarded by French forces. The captain is set to stand trial in France in February, charged with not cooperating with authorities.
Made up of hundreds of oil tankers, the "shadow fleet" has played a key role for Russia to circumvent Western sanctions imposed on Russian oil and gas products since the full-fledged invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
