Russia on Wednesday condemned the European Union's decision allowing its military vessels in the Mediterranean Sea to stop and inspect foreign ships suspected of belonging to the "shadow fleet" transporting Russian oil. Moscow affirmed it would take all necessary legal
and other measures to protect these vessels and its interests. The European Union had announced Monday an expansion of Operation Irini, a naval military mission launched March 31, 2020, primarily aimed at enforcing the UN arms embargo on Libya. The expansion
now includes powers to inspect the aforementioned ships. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated this measure constitutes a threat to maritime security and accused the EU of intimidating civilian ships. Zakharova clarified that international law does not mention the "shadow
fleet," deeming it a "political fabrication" by the European Union. During a press conference, Zakharova stressed that "the EU's deployment of Operation Irini vessels in the Mediterranean to inspect or confiscate oil-carrying ships constitutes a flagrant violation of international law." She
added that Russia "reserves the right to use its full arsenal of political, legal, and other available means to protect maritime security and the legitimate interests of shippers and ship owners."
