Germany intensifies its fight against the Russian “shadow fleet” in the Baltic Sea.
Since July 1st, 2025, the German authorities have questioned tankers about their insurance coverage for oil pollution damages. This is about ships sailing through the Fehmarn Belt Strait, which is between the German island of Fehmarn and the Danish island of Lolland in the western part of the Baltic Sea, bypassing reliable insurance companies and European ports.
The information received from tanker operators will be reviewed by the Ministry of Justice, and if there are inconsistencies, this may lead to including the vessel in sanctions lists. The German authorities do not hide their intentions to combat Russia’s efforts to circumvent sanctions.
“Our objective is quite clear: to increase the pressure on the Russian shadow fleet and protect the Baltic Sea habitat,” said Federal Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.
The shadow fleet includes oil tankers flying under the flags of various countries, and with their help, Russia supplies these tankers with oil and petroleum products to certain countries.
As of May 2025, the European Union’s sanctions list of Russian shadow tankers had almost 350 names on it.
