Russian tankers leave oil stains in Europe: why sanctions are not working

According to hvylya.net: Russian tankers from the so-called 'shadow fleet' continue to sail freely in European waters, leaving oil stains behind, despite Western sanctions. This is evidenced by a joint investigation by the non-profit journalism group SourceMaterial and Politico.

In September, the European Commission proposed adding 118 new vessels linked to Russia to the blacklist as part of the 19th sanctions package. Experts urge the EU to sanction the 'entire value chain' involved in transporting sanctioned oil, including oil refineries, service providers, and flag registries. National coast guards should also detain vessels while passing through European waters if they previously left spills, operate without legal insurance, or sail under false flags, experts claim.

The joint investigation by SourceMaterial and Politico revealed that Russian tankers from the 'shadow fleet' continue to violate international standards and leave pollution in European waters, ignoring the imposed sanctions. This indicates the need for increased oversight and measures to penalize violators to prevent similar situations in the future.