Sweden seizes Russian shadow fleet ship in helicopter raid
Illustrative photo: Troops from a helicopter capture a vessel belonging to Russia's shadow fleet (Getty Images)
The Swedish Coast Guard, using a helicopter, seized a vessel from Russia’s shadow fleet that was sailing under a foreign flag and is on Ukraine’s sanctions list, citing Sweden Herald.
The coast guard boarded the bulk carrier Caffa in Swedish territorial waters. The vessel, which transports grain, is on Ukraine’s sanctions list. A helicopter and a patrol boat were used for the seizure operation.
The vessel is known to have recently arrived from Casablanca and is reportedly heading to St. Petersburg.
Swedish Coast Guard spokesperson Mattias Lindholm said that the relevant authorities are investigating the vessel.
“I don't want to speculate on what decisions we will make. Right now we are still at sea, directly south of Trelleborg,” Lindholm added.
Sweden’s Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin said the vessel, whose ownership is highly questionable, likely has no insurance. Earlier this summer, the ship changed its flag from Russian to Guinean.
Sweden also noted that during the investigation, authorities will determine whether the vessel complies with the technical requirements established for navigation in the territorial waters of the northern European country.
Fight against Russia’s shadow fleet
The European Union presented a new package of restrictions aimed at drastically reducing Russia's revenues from energy trade.
Brussels is preparing the toughest measures against Russia’s oil sector, which provides for a shift from the price cap to a de facto ban on operations involving sanctioned vessels.
NATO countries are already moving to decisive action at sea. For example, Belgian military forces have for the first time boarded a vessel suspected of violating the sanctions regime and cooperating with Russia.
