The EU's naval mission intercepted a Russian tanker that had changed its flag to evade sanctions.

Italian Navy Intercepts Russian "Shadow Fleet" Tanker off the Coast of Sicily The ship, Toa Payoh, which was en route from Benin to Istanbul, was intercepted by forces from the EU naval mission EUNAVFOR MED Irini. The tanker is subject to EU sanctions and changed its flag to Cameroonian last week. This prompted the inspection Initially, the captain refused to cooperate, forcing Italian military personnel to board the ship via helicopter, launched from the flagship Thaon di Revel #AureFreePress

Italian military forces, part of the EU’s EUNAVFOR MED Irini mission, inspected the tanker Toa Payoh in the Mediterranean near Pantelleria. The Cameroon-flagged vessel is part of Russia's shadow fleet and subject to EU sanctions. https://ru.themoscowtimes.com/2026/08/02/italiya-visadila-desant-natanker-tenevogo-flota-putina-vsredizemnom-more-a202440 #Ukraine #Russia #EU #Italy