Belgian & French Forces Seize Suspected Russian Shadow-Fleet Tanker (2 vids)

[DeathHand]

Suspected Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tanker seized in North Sea​

Mar 1 2026

"Belgian special forces boarded the Ethera, which was sailing under the flag of Guinea, on Saturday night.

Belgium has seized an oil tanker believed to form part of the so-called “shadow fleet” used by Russia to circumvent western sanctions over the war in Ukraine.

Special forces assisted by French helicopters boarded the ship in a clandestine operation in the North Sea on Saturday night, Belgium’s defence minister, Theo Francken, said on Sunday.

Prosecutors said the tanker, identified as the Ethera, was falsely flying the flag of Guinea and was believed to be on its way back to Russia when it was seized in Belgium’s exclusive economic zone.

Belgium’s federal prosecutor’s office said the ship’s captain, a Russian citizen, was being questioned and a criminal investigation was under way. In a statement, the office added that ship’s documents found on the Ethera were also suspected of being false.

Francken said the vessel was escorted to Zeebrugge harbour, where it will be officially confiscated." Source

Only just over 900 more Russian shadow fleet tankers to go....

Vid 1:

Vid 2:

 

[Harumph]

And there was much rejoicing, tempered due to Lent of course (notice the lack of meat on the board), after visiting the slightly less than stock'd Cheese Shop.

 

[PokeyCactus]

Who knew Belgium and France had balls?

 

[DeathHand]

Who knew Belgium and France had balls?

France ahd already done this to a suspected Russian shadow fleet shitbox, "the Grinch", but due to some legal crap had to release it. But the Belgians...who knew they had a Delta force...(they boarded while French choppers kept watch).