Event 332

{
  "border_violation_countries": [
    "BSR"
  ],
  "category": "Maritime",
  "confidence": "Low",
  "confidence_rationale": "Report cites statements from Swedish defense and maritime officials regarding shadow fleet activity, and carries direct attribution to Politico EU, a reputable source. The piece quotes specific risks, regional actors, and policy recommendations.",
  "countries": [
    "Sweden",
    "Russia"
  ],
  "country": "Sweden",
  "defense_prep": {},
  "description": "A Politico report describes concerns by Swedish authorities over Russia’s so-called 'shadow fleet' of oil tankers operating near Gotland, raising security fears and calling for a coordinated EU response to sanction evasions and maritime risks in the Baltic Sea.",
  "event_time_utc": "2024-04-30T12:00:00Z",
  "evidence": [
    "Multiple references to Russian 'shadow fleet' vessels operating near Swedish territory.",
    "Direct concerns from Swedish authorities about security, environmental, and sabotage risks.",
    "Calls for EU-level sanctions enforcement and improved Baltic situational awareness.",
    "Discussion of risks posed to Gotland, a strategic location in the Baltic Sea."
  ],
  "evidence_quotes": [
    "\"Russia has assembled a fleet of shadow tankers, also sometimes called ghost ships, to secretly export oil and avoid Western sanctions passed in response to its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.\"",
    "\"In doing so, they have to operate in the Baltic Sea, sailing particularly close to Sweden’s strategic Gotland island, and increasing the risk of environmental accidents, or even potential oil spills, and at the most sinister end the risk of covert operations.\"",
    "\"Swedish military and civilian officials are keeping an increasingly close eye on the activities of these murky vessels...\"",
    "\"Gotland is a vital piece of NATO’s Baltic Sea puzzle, so the Swedes are on high alert for malign activity around the island.\""
  ],
  "evidence_urls": [
    "https://www.politico.eu/article/russias-shadow-fleet-gotland-sweden-nato-eu-sanctions-baltic-sea-action-plan/"
  ],
  "extra": {
    "category_raw": "Shadow Fleet",
    "extra": {
      "extra": {
        "extra": {
          "evidence": [
            "Multiple references to Russian 'shadow fleet' vessels operating near Swedish territory.",
            "Direct concerns from Swedish authorities about security, environmental, and sabotage risks.",
            "Calls for EU-level sanctions enforcement and improved Baltic situational awareness.",
            "Discussion of risks posed to Gotland, a strategic location in the Baltic Sea."
          ]
        }
      }
    }
  },
  "follow_up_by_country": [],
  "follow_up_notes": "How the BSR countries can stop the shadow fleet",
  "headline": "As Russia’s shadow fleet menaces Sweden, here’s how the EU could help",
  "location_text": "Gotland, Sweden",
  "media_assets": [
    {
      "description": "Screenshot capture",
      "type": "screenshot",
      "url": "/media/event_332_1763923468_dda818b5.jpg"
    }
  ],
  "notes": "How the BSR countries can stop the shadow fleet",
  "schema_version": "v1",
  "screenshot_count": 1,
  "sources": [
    "https://www.politico.eu/article/russias-shadow-fleet-gotland-sweden-nato-eu-sanctions-baltic-sea-action-plan/"
  ],
  "summary_short": "Sweden faces menacing activity from Russia’s 'shadow fleet' of oil tankers skirting sanctions in the Baltic Sea near Gotland, prompting calls for joint EU action.",
  "url": "https://www.politico.eu/article/russias-shadow-fleet-gotland-sweden-nato-eu-sanctions-baltic-sea-action-plan/"
}

{
  "5th Column of Russians Inside (which countries)": "",
  "Attack Type": "Shadow Fleet",
  "Borders Including Sea, Air,  Violation or Sabotage (which countries)": "BSR",
  "Continuous? (e.g. Jammers)": "",
  "Country (FI;EE;LV;LT;PL;BSR;Air)\nSeparated by Semicolon": "BSR",
  "Date": "30-Apr-24",
  "Defense Prep Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL)": "",
  "Defense Prep Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL) REF LINK": "",
  "Follow-Up Link?  (FI,EE,LV,LT,PL, BSR, Air)": "https://www.politico.eu/article/russias-shadow-fleet-gotland-sweden-nato-eu-sanctions-baltic-sea-action-plan/",
  "Follow-Up NOTES": "",
  "Follow-Up incl. Investigation, Prosecution?  (FI,EE,LV,LT,PL, BSR, Air)": "How the BSR countries can stop the shadow fleet",
  "Latitude, Longitude (WGS84, Decimal Degrees)": "",
  "NOTES": "How the BSR countries can stop the shadow fleet",
  "Political Disruptions w/ Laws to Favor Kremlin (which countries)": "",
  "Russian-Belarus Terrorist Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL)": "",
  "Russian-Belarus Terrorist Event (FI-EE-LV-LT-PL) REF LINK": "",
  "Screen Snapshot": "",
  "Screen Snapshots": "",
  "Type Dropdown": "",
  "Where?\n(Air, Land, Sea)": ""
}