BRUSSELS: Russian nationals with alleged links to the country’s military and intelligence services have been operating aboard oil tankers used to circumvent Western sanctions, according to information shared by Western and Ukrainian intelligence services and reported by CNN.
Since the launch of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Moscow has expanded a so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers that continue exporting Russian crude from Baltic and Black Sea ports despite international restrictions. These vessels, often registered under flags of convenience and owned through opaque corporate structures, are estimated to generate hundreds of millions of euros annually for the Russian state.
Intelligence agencies have recently identified a new operational pattern involving the discreet placement of Russian personnel aboard some of these tankers shortly before departure. Crew manifests reviewed by CNN show ships otherwise staffed by non-Russian nationals—including crews from China, Myanmar, and Bangladesh—listing one or two Russian citizens, typically designated as “technicians,” with valid Russian passport documentation.
According to Ukrainian and Western intelligence sources, several of these individuals are affiliated with Moran Security Group, a private security company with documented links to Russian military and intelligence institutions. The company was sanctioned by the United States Treasury in 2024 for providing armed security services to Russian state-owned enterprises in support of Moscow’s war against Ukraine.
Intelligence officials assess that Moran personnel are frequently the only Russian nationals on board these vessels and serve a supervisory role over ship operations, particularly when captains are foreign nationals. Some sources further allege that these individuals have been involved in intelligence collection activities, including photographing sensitive European military infrastructure. Details regarding alleged sabotage activities were not disclosed.
European security officials have expressed growing concern over the presence of armed personnel with military backgrounds aboard commercial vessels operating near EU and NATO coastlines. The practice is viewed as part of a broader set of hybrid or “gray zone” tactics attributed to Russia, aimed at exerting pressure and creating instability while avoiding direct military confrontation.
CNN documented the case of a sanctioned tanker known as the Boracay, which has repeatedly changed its name and flag over the past three years. On 20 September, two Russian nationals boarded the vessel at the port of Primorsk in the Baltic Sea. Intelligence sources identified both men as having prior affiliations with Russian security structures. They were reportedly the only Russians aboard the ship.
Shortly after the Boracay departed Primorsk, multiple drone sightings were reported near Danish airports and military installations. While authorities did not establish a direct link between the incidents and any specific vessel, intelligence officials described the temporal and geographic overlap as noteworthy.
The tanker was subsequently boarded by French authorities off the coast of Brittany after failing to provide adequate documentation of its nationality. While no drones were found on board, the presence of the Russian personnel was confirmed during questioning. French authorities arrested the vessel’s captain for non-compliance with maritime instructions and opened an investigation into the ship’s flag status.
Maritime authorities in Denmark and Sweden have reported similar observations on other shadow fleet vessels, including the presence of individuals who do not appear to be part of standard merchant crews. Danish sea pilots have stated that such personnel sometimes exercise authority exceeding that of the ship’s captain and have displayed hostility toward inspectors. Swedish naval officials have previously noted unusual communications equipment aboard some Russian-linked tankers.
Moran Security Group, established in 2009, has historical ties to Russian private military contractors, including entities that preceded the Wagner Group. The company’s leadership includes former officers of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) and retired naval commanders. Moran publicly advertises services ranging from maritime security to intelligence-related operations and lists Russia’s state shipping company Sovcomflot among its clients.
After transiting European waters, the Boracay proceeded to India, where it unloaded Russian crude oil at the port of Vadinar on 1 November, according to shipping analytics firm Kpler.
As Russia continues to expand the scale and operational sophistication of its shadow fleet, European governments face complex legal and political challenges. While intercepting uninsured or improperly registered vessels could mitigate security risks, such actions would likely require coordinated EU-level decision-making to avoid escalation.
Maritime and security officials emphasize that any effective response must be collective, underlining the strategic sensitivity of Europe’s maritime domain amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
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