Belgian military forces have intercepted and taken control of an oil tanker suspected of operating as part of Russia’s covert shipping network, according to an announcement from Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken on Sunday.
The operation involved Belgian armed forces working in coordination with French defense personnel to board the vessel at sea, Francken revealed in a social media statement posted early Sunday morning.
“Over the past few hours, our armed forces, with the support of the French Defence, have boarded an oil tanker belonging to the Russian shadow fleet,” Francken wrote on X.
The intercepted tanker is now under military escort heading toward Zeebrugge port, where Belgian authorities plan to formally confiscate the vessel, the defense minister confirmed.
“The vessel is currently being escorted to the port of Zeebrugge, where it will be seized,” Francken stated in his announcement.
