EU Naval Forces Board Another Sanctioned Russian Tanker in Mediterranean

The European Union's Operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI has boarded another Russian-flagged tanker, Toa Payoh, in international waters west of Italy. The inspection was carried out to verify whether the vessel was entitled to fly the Cameroonian flag, under which it had been sailing.

The Italian Navy's ITS Thaon di Revel conducted the boarding on August 2, supported by a Greek naval vessel and a Polish maritime patrol aircraft. The vessel's master initially declined to provide cooperation, but Italian naval personnel were inserted by helicopter to conduct the inspection.

This is the latest in a series of inspections targeting Russia's shadow fleet, which has been accused of relying on opaque ownership structures and flag changes to continue exporting oil despite Western sanctions and the G7 price cap. European officials have warned that many of these aging tankers pose growing environmental and maritime safety risks.