European Union foreign minister Kaja Kallas on Monday called on the bloc to “be creative” in building up the Russian “Fleet,” used to cut off an international oil jet linked to the war in Ukraine.
Russia has been pushing the sanctions too far, he said, and the EU needs to do the same.
“We need to think all the time we can,” said Kallas, as he arrived at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.
Kallas said that the EU has made great progress in reducing Moscow’s income from sanctions on the export of Russian oil, but that ministers will discuss the coordination of these measures.
According to a working paper prepared for a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday in Luxembourg, the fleet is now estimated to include between 600 and 1,400 tanks.
Experts advising Chief Afface of EU Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas said that the ships not only contribute to the Russian war economy but also create serious environmental and maritime security risks, according to a document seen by DPA.
Accidents involving these substances can cause oil spills and other marine pollution, with adverse effects on coastal areas, the environment and fisheries.
Most ships have Opaque proprietary frames and cannot be blocked or protected. In such cases, experts note, taxpayers of coastal areas can be left to cover the cost of any environmental damage.
Moscow has been dependent on the shipping event for years to pass the price set by the west for Russian oil. This often involves the management of older vessels with difficult-to-trace ownership and the use of tactics to hide the origin of the oil cargo.
Some ships have been programmed with satellite-based automatic transponders (AIS) turned off or programmed, while others have transferred oil between tankers at sea.
Ships as a platform for drone attacks
Experts also warn that naval vessels may be used as launching platforms for drone attacks or espionage attacks. This concern is growing following the mysterious sighting of a drone in Denmark, temporarily disrupting air traffic in the Copenhagen area.
To deal with the problem, the Kallas propose strong action against the ships and shipping companies involved, alongside the area of cooperation near the coastal areas and the countries under the flags of operation. Ideally, such states would agree to inspect EU Naval Forces.
Since June 2025, three EU Naval missions have been assigned the task of patrolling ships and gathering intelligence, including the current operation, which aims to protect merchant ships from Lemeni Houthi Militia.
More than 560 ships in the list of organizations
Looking ahead, the EU plans to expand its elimination list. The number of ships facing port bans and punitive measures, pending approval by EU member states, is set to increase from 444 to 562 under the EU-Russia package, according to the document.
Kallas said he hoped an agreement on a new package of sentences could be reached later this week at the next meeting of EU leaders in Brussels.
