The Belgian Armed Forces, with the support of the French Ministry of Defense, conducted a successful operation to detain a tanker of the russian aggressor country's "shadow fleet." Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken announced this on March 1 on X.
According to the official, the vessel, intercepted during Operation Blue Intruder by a team of "exceptionally brave service members," is currently being escorted to the port of Zeebrugge for further confiscation.
The head of the defense ministry emphasized the strategic importance of such actions, as it is through the hidden export of resources that the kremlin finances the hostilities.
"Without his shadow fleet Poetin can’t wage war against innocent Ukranians. So we take these vessels out. One by one. Till his war of agression stops. Belgium maybe a small country. But we are founding father of NATO and the EU and we take our responsability serious," Francken said.
He also emphasized that after a long period of decline in the defense sector, the country has finally returned to actively fulfilling its obligations.
"When it matters, we don’t hide. We show up," the defense minister said.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on January 29, in the French port of Marseille-Fos, an oil tanker Grinch, which is suspected of belonging to the so-called "shadow fleet" of the russian federation, was grounded.
On January 22, French President Emmanuel Macron said that the French military intercepted the Grinch tanker in the Mediterranean Sea. The sanctioned vessel was heading to russia.
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