Explosions of oil tankers: Why is Russia's "shadow fleet" sinking?

Three oil tankers have exploded in the Mediterranean Sea over the past month. All of them had previously docked at Russian ports, raising numerous questions. Experts do not rule out the possibility of sabotage, which could serve as a warning for Russia's "shadow fleet."

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This was announced on Saturday, February 22, during the national telethon "We are Ukraine" by Captain 1st Rank of the Reserve, former Deputy Chief of Staff of the Ukrainian Navy Andrei Ryzhenko.

Explosions on Russian Tankers

"It's a strange coincidence that three tankers exploded in a short period over a significant distance from Russia. Most likely, explosives were planted inside the vessels, which were activated remotely. Technologically, this is feasible from anywhere in the world.", — says Andrei Ryzhenko.

According to the expert, these incidents may signal the shadow oil fleet that Russia uses to bypass sanctions. He stated that such attacks restrict the movement of tankers and compel companies to reassess the risks of transporting Russian oil.

"Russia receives 32-35 billion dollars monthly from oil and gas sales. Most of these funds go towards waging war. Therefore, international sanctions and other measures aimed at limiting the operations of the shadow fleet are crucial. We are already seeing a decline in revenues from energy resource exports.", — noted Ryzhenko.

Destruction of Russian Logistics

He also compared the situation to the fight against piracy in the Gulf of Aden, which became successful due to comprehensive measures — from military operations to financial sanctions. Andrei Ryzhenko believes that similar methods can be applied to dismantle Russian oil logistics. Indeed, some tanker companies are already enhancing security measures, and insurance firms are reassessing risks for vessels entering Russian ports.

Additionally, oil tankers have been subjected to explosions in various parts of the Mediterranean Sea. A Greek tanker exploded in a port in northern Italy, a second was damaged near the Turkish port of Ceyhan, and a third — off the coast of Libya. All these vessels had previously called at Russian ports.

It is worth noting that Zelensky imposed sanctions against Russia's "shadow fleet". Furthermore, Ukraine is supported in its fight against the shadow fleet by Estonia and the EU.