The UK's Baltic Balancing Act: A Glimpse into Russia's Shadow Fleet The Royal Navy's three day operation to track Russian vessels in the North Sea and English Channel highlights concerns about Moscow's "shadow fleet," an armada of ships allegedly ferrying sanctioned goods.
This phenomenon has been a thorn in the side of international cooperation for European nations. At its core, the shadow fleet represents Russia's attempts to circumvent economic sanctions imposed by Western nations.
By using civilian ships and exploiting loopholes, Moscow maintains a significant flow of revenue from oil and gas exports.