European Union Naval Task Force Intercepts Suspected Russian Shadow Tanker
The European Union’s Naval Force Mediterranean intercepted a tanker on Sunday that is suspected of being part of Russia’s shadow fleet. Italian Navy multi-purpose combat ship ITS Thaon di Revel (P430), flagship of the EU’s Operation Irini, conducted a flag verification boarding of sanctioned tanker MT Toa Payoh (IMO: 9298492), according to the Italian Defense Ministry. Toa Payoh was flying a Cameroon flag at the time of the intercept and was bound for Istanbul. The tanker departed July 16 from the port of Cotonou, Benin. The tanker, which is under EU sanctions and part of Russia’s shadow fleet, was intercepted
Italian Navy multi-purpose combat ship ITS Thaon di Revel (P430), Greek Navy frigate HS Kanaris (F464) and a Polish Navy M-28 B1R Bryza Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) intercepted sanctioned tanker MT Toa Payoh (IMO: 9298492) on Aug. 2, 2026. Italian Defense Ministry photo The European Union’s Naval Force Mediterranean intercepted a tanker on Sunday that is suspected of being part of Russia’s shadow fleet.
Italian Navy multi-purpose combat ship ITS Thaon di Revel (P430), flagship of the EU’s Operation Irini, conducted a flag verification boarding of sanctioned tanker MT Toa Payoh (IMO: 9298492), according to the Italian Defense Ministry. Toa Payoh was flying a Cameroon flag at the time of the intercept and was bound for Istanbul. The tanker departed July 16 from the port of Cotonou, Benin.
The tanker, which is under EU sanctions and part of Russia’s shadow fleet, was intercepted west of the Italian island of Pantelleria. Pantelleria is 106 kilometres – about 66 miles – southwest of Sicily and 68 kilometers – 42 miles – east of the Tunisian coast. The tanker’s master initially did not cooperate and an Italian military boarding team was deployed by helicopter from Thaon di Revel to conduct the required inspections, the Italian Defense Ministry said.
“I would like to congratulate the crew of ITS Thaon di Revel and all the military personnel involved in the operation for the professionalism, preparedness and determination they demonstrated. This activity once again provides tangible evidence of Italy’s contribution to security in the Mediterranean and to the European Union’s efforts,” said Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto.
The operation was conducted in international waters under the European mandate and was carried out in full compliance with Article 110 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which authorizes a warship to verify the nationality of a merchant vessel and its flag. The information and documentation collected during the inspection are currently being examined, according to the ministry.
an Italian military boarding team was deployed by helicopter from ITS Thaon di Revel (P430) to conduct the required inspections on Aug. 2, 2026. Italian Defense Ministry photo Toa Payoh was allowed to continue on its journey. EU sanctions only impose penalties – not seizures or arrests. Sanction penalties include asset freezes, travel bans and the prohibition to make funds and economic resources available to listed entities with sanctioned ships being barred from entering EU ports. Toa Payoh is also sanctioned by Canada, Switzerland, the U.K. and Ukraine. France, as well as Belgium and the U.K., have adopted a different approach to intercepting sanctioned ships, opting to seize and divert the ships to their national ports for inspections and fines.
Thaon di Revel was supported by Greek Navy frigate HS Kanaris (F464) and a Polish Navy M-28 B1R Bryza Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA). The operation lasted approximately two hours.
According to Poland’s Operation Irini contingent, they provided air support by conducting reconnaissance and observation tasks.
“This is yet another proof that joint actions of the European Union countries really strengthen security and stability in the region, and the Polish Military Contingent IRINI continuously contributes its professional contribution to the implementation of the mandate of the operation. We are proud to be part of this effort,” reads the social media post from the unit.
The European Naval Force Mediterranean’s Operation Irini was launched on March 31, 2020, with the primary mission of enforcing the United Nations’ arms embargo on Libya due to the Second Libyan Civil War. Headquartered in Rome, Italy, the mission has since expanded to include providing maritime security in the Mediterranean. Now, three ships from the EU countries join together to make up a task group for a rotational deployment. Thaon di Revel leads the current rotation.
The UN allowed the mission’s mandate to lapse on May 24 but the mission continues under the aegis of the EU. The EU mandate will last until March 31, 2027. Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the European Commission stated on June 8 that the rules of engagement had been changed for the Irini mission to allow boarding of suspected shadow fleet ships.
On July 22, following the boarding of sanctioned tanker MT South Star (IMO:9263186), Kallas announced that EU Naval Force Atalanta, an ongoing maritime security operation in the Western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, was authorized to conduct flag verification boardings of suspected Russian shadow fleet vessels.
“Member States this week have authorised Operation EUNAVFOR ATALANTA to begin conducting flag verification boardings of suspected Russian shadow fleet vessels, in the same way Operation IRINI does. This decision further tightens the net,” Kallas said in a post on her official account on social media channel X.
