Russian Navy has decided to take action, a document was placed on Putin's desk, now several European countries are in trouble!
In early 2026, a classified document from the Russian Presidential Maritime Academy quietly found its way onto Putin's desk — the content was direct and firm: the Russian Navy will formally provide armed escort for the "shadow fleet".
Since the full-scale outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, the West has imposed the harshest energy sanctions on Russia, especially the "price cap mechanism" led by G7, which aimed to cut off Russia's oil export lifeline. But Moscow did not sit idle — they secretly formed a large fleet composed of old oil tankers, stateless cargo ships, and "ghost ships", known in the industry as the "shadow fleet".
This fleet has no fixed route, does not fly any flag, and even frequently changes AIS signals (Automatic Identification System), like a naval guerrilla, shuttling between the Black Sea, Mediterranean, and Indian Ocean, secretly transporting Urals crude oil to India, China, and some European "gray market buyers".
According to data from the International Energy Agency (IEA) at the end of 2025, Russia still exports about 3 million barrels of crude oil per day through the shadow fleet, accounting for nearly 70% of its total exports. In recent years, the shadow fleet relied on "stealth techniques" — bribing port officials, forging bills of lading, and cutting off AIS signals. However, the risks have become increasingly greater. In 2024, an oil tanker flying the flag of Tanzania was seized by the EU in Greek waters; in the summer of 2025, the Royal Navy of the UK intercepted a Liberian cargo ship suspected of transporting Russian oil in the Strait of Gibraltar.
More seriously, insurance companies have started to withdraw collectively. Western giants such as Lloyd’s of London refused to insure questionable vessels, leading many shipowners to prefer to bear the risks themselves rather than expose their identities. The cost of "hiding" is getting higher and higher, and the limit of "enduring" has finally been reached.
Thus, the Russian Presidential Maritime Academy — a think tank that directly provides strategic advice to the Kremlin — proposed a bold plan: to have the Russian Navy formally intervene, providing escort and deterrence for the shadow fleet.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1855828316408007/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.