A Russian cargo ship tied to Russia’s growing shadow fleet docked near Finland’s Olkiluoto nuclear power plant, raising fresh security concerns across Northern Europe. According to Dagens Nyheter, this covert network of oil tankers continues to operate beyond Western oversight despite years of sanctions. Henrik Wachtmeister’s analysis highlights how Russia’s growing shadow fleet enables Moscow to sustain vital energy exports and weaken the impact of Western restrictions.
“The Russian shadow fleet has grown explosively. In total, it may include 600–1,000 tankers that transport 90 percent of all Russian crude oil,” said Henrik Wachtmeister, Associate Professor of Energy Systems in the Department of Earth Sciences, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development at Uppsala University.
Wachtmeister’s analysis reveals how this vast fleet enables Russia to sustain exports and weaken the impact of Western restrictions.
The DN article describes the vessel Scanlark, which sails under a Caribbean flag and carries a mainly Russian crew. German special forces raided the ship earlier after suspecting intelligence activity. Finnish authorities, including the Coast Guard and Customs, have now increased surveillance. They warn that Russia’s shadow fleet could support hybrid warfare against Europe’s critical infrastructure.
To read the full feature and Henrik Wachtmeister’s expert commentary on Russia’s shadow fleet and its global implications, visit Dagens Nyheter.
Further Reading
Cutting Russia’s income demands a coordinated strategy that targets energy exports, key materials, and critical technologies. Broader trade, financial, and military sanctions continue to weaken its war efforts and global influence.
For deeper insights on how sanctions affect the Russian economy, visit the Sanctions Portal Evidence Base. Learn more about Western sanction packages and Russian countermeasures in the Timeline of Western Sanctions and Russian Countermeasures.
