The operation was conducted under the banner of enforcing international sanctions, with officials noting the vessel could have been sailing under a false flag.

EU authorities warn that Shadow Fleet ships could serve as platforms for drones, espionage, and disruption, highlighting ongoing risks to North and Baltic Sea infrastructure.

Justice and North Sea ministers Annelies Verlinden, Theo Francken, and Jean-Luc Crucke oversaw the operation from the operational command post, with real-time monitoring.

Belgian National Crisis Centre and the Threat Analysis Coordination Organel are conducting a new threat analysis to assess evolving risks.

A Sunday morning press conference is expected to provide further details, with praise from regional ministers Verlinden and Prévot for support.

Belgian forces, with French support, intercepted and seized the Guinean-flagged oil tanker Ethera in Zeebrugge after a late-night operation, finding indicators it belonged to Russia’s sanctioned shadow fleet.

Belgian Prime Minister and other officials publicly commended the action and signaled that more information would follow.

The report originates from paywalled sources such as Les Echos/Le Soir, limiting publicly available background content.

Russia denounces the seizure as piracy, while Western officials reaffirm that sanctions enforcement remains active.

Belgian and French authorities emphasize geopolitical tensions and organized crime driving vulnerabilities in maritime infrastructure, justifying proactive enforcement.

Ukrainian President Zelensky welcomed the action and framed it as part of countering Russia’s alleged mafia-like operations.

Prime Minister Bart De Wever praised the military operation as upholding international maritime law and safeguarding Belgian waters, while keeping operational details limited.