Germany Takes Tougher Action Against Russian Shadow Fleet

On the early morning of 10 January 2026, the German Federal Police actively prevented the Russian tanker 'Tavian' — designated a 'zombie ship' under US sanctions since 2021 and part of the Russian shadow fleet — from passing through German territorial waters in the North Sea near Schleswig-Holstein and later near Flensburg. The vessel was found to be operating under a falsified flag and forged identification numbers. German authorities used a police helicopter to approach the ship and radioed its captain to demand necessary documentation. The measures led to the tanker turning away and leaving the Baltic Sea to avoid seizure. This incident represents a shift in German and Western handling of the shadow fleet, which consists of about 500 mostly decrepit ships used by Russia to circumvent oil sanctions and allegedly engage in espionage and sabotage. German authorities also recently barred other Russian-flagged ships such as the research vessel 'Akademik Boris Petrov' and monitored the tanker 'Chariot Tide' for suspicious activity near undersea cables. German police are now adopting more robust legal interpretations of maritime law, challenging Russia's claim to 'innocent passage' for ships lacking authentic flags or engaging in non-peaceful activities. The Russian Navy's diminished ability to protect their shadow fleet with warships or aircraft has also facilitated this tougher stance. German lawmakers from CDU and the Greens called for fully exploiting legal tools to stop and eventually remove these problematic vessels. The incident highlights growing Western efforts to enforce sanctions and reduce Russian covert maritime operations in the Baltic and North Sea.