On November 26, 2025, Russia continues its hybrid warfare campaign using naval intimidation and shadow-fleet tanker operations in the Baltic Sea region, exploiting Europe's dependency on energy imports and vulnerable maritime infrastructure. Europe remains reluctant to respond robustly, lacking a coordinated Baltic mission capable of seizing shadow-fleet tankers and defending infrastructure. The article stresses that European nations, including France and Italy, have conducted isolated naval exercises but no sustained Baltic-wide mission exists to counter Russian covert maritime activities. The authors argue Europe needs a gray-zone warfare strategy, involving a naval operation under EU command to track, interdict, and disrupt shadow-fleet oil tankers and protect critical energy and maritime facilities. They emphasize that lack of political will within the EU, combined with fragmented military efforts, hampers effective response to Russia's hybrid tactics that blend energy supply manipulation and maritime shadow operations. Naval and energy security experts advocate for improved European collaboration and enforcement measures against illegal ship-to-ship transfers and other maritime smuggling used by Russia to circumvent sanctions. This event highlights the ongoing hybrid maritime pressure by Russia and Europe’s inadequate coordinated defense posture.

On November 26, 2025, Russia continues its hybrid warfare campaign using naval intimidation and shadow-fleet tanker operations in the Baltic Sea region, exploiting Europe's dependency on energy imports and vulnerable maritime infrastructure. Europe remains reluctant to respond robustly, lacking a coordinated Baltic mission capable of seizing shadow-fleet tankers and defending infrastructure. The article stresses that European nations, including France and Italy, have conducted isolated naval exercises but no sustained Baltic-wide mission exists to counter Russian covert maritime activities. The authors argue Europe needs a gray-zone warfare strategy, involving a naval operation under EU command to track, interdict, and disrupt shadow-fleet oil tankers and protect critical energy and maritime facilities. They emphasize that lack of political will within the EU, combined with fragmented military efforts, hampers effective response to Russia's hybrid tactics that blend energy supply manipulation and maritime shadow operations. Naval and energy security experts advocate for improved European collaboration and enforcement measures against illegal ship-to-ship transfers and other maritime smuggling used by Russia to circumvent sanctions. This event highlights the ongoing hybrid maritime pressure by Russia and Europe’s inadequate coordinated defense posture.