EU think tank warns the shadow fleet is becoming a military asset

A commentary from the EU Institute for Security Studies argues that European pressure has changed the fleet in two ways. Russia is registering the vessels under its own flag, and it is arming them: in June 2026 Estonian authorities reported machine guns mounted on the deck of a shadow fleet ship passing through Estonian waters. The authors also link the vessels to drone sightings across Europe in 2025 and 2026, and say the aim should remain removing old, dangerous ships from European waters.

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