Kaja Kallas, who heads the European Union's diplomacy, reported that European military personnel boarded the tanker Midag in the Mediterranean Sea. According to her, the vessel is suspected of belonging to the Russian shadow fleet.
In a message published on social network X, Kallas specified: "EU forces from EUNAVFOR MED IRINI boarded on November 13 a tanker in the Mediterranean Sea suspected of belonging to the Russian shadow fleet."
International services ShipFinder and VesselTracker indicate that the Midag sailed under the flag of Zimbabwe.
Incidents have occurred previously when military personnel from EU countries tried to detain foreign vessels, linking their activity to Moscow. In October, the French Navy stopped the tanker DF Peak, sailing under the flag of Benin, in the Indian Ocean.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko noted that there were no Russians aboard that vessel. He characterized Paris's actions as a gross violation of international law.
In mid-August, Vladimir Putin said that the Kremlin was recording the desire of authorities in some countries to restrict the movement of vessels of Russian companies. The president stressed that Moscow would respond in kind to all attempts to carry out such plans, and not necessarily in the same waters where the attacks are planned.