The Berlin Office of the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM), the Federal Academy for Security Policy (BAKS) and the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) are pleased to invite you to a closed-door expert roundtable:                        

Reaching the “Invisible”
How to Counter the Russian Shadow Fleet

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Wednesday, 8 July 2026, 15:30-18:00
Federal Academy for Security Policy​,
Ossietzkystraße 44/45, 13187 Berlin
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In response to G7+ sanctions Russia has deployed approximately 700 ageing tankers that operate outside international maritime standards. This shadow fleet has become a key mechanism for mitigating the impact of Western sanctions, while simultaneously generating significant environmental, safety and security risks on a global scale. Old, poorly maintained, and often uninsured vessels are more prone to collisions and spills. Documented leaks as well as allegations of sabotage and intelligence gathering underscore the threat, especially in regions with dense subsea or other maritime critical infrastructure.

Efforts to curb the activities of Russia’s shadow fleet have evolved into a multi-layered enforcement architecture encompassing international coalitions, regional security frameworks, and national-level actions. The roundtable will examine the evolution and effectiveness of these measures – with particular attention to lessons learned from the G7+ coalition’s sanctions targeting the oil sector and the shadow fleet. The discussion will address key enforcement challenges.

The debate will be informed by insights from the latest PISM report “Russia’s Shadow Fleet under Pressure: Boosting the Impact of Western Sanctions” as well as analyses by SWP. For their latest findings on Russia’s shadow fleet, please take note of the SWP paper “Measures Against the “Russian Shadow Fleet” - Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik”.

Agenda:

Participation is by invitation only. The discussion will be held in English under the Chatham House Rule. Due to the limited number of places, the organisers reserve the right to close registration early.