Zelenskyy Pushes for Ban on Russian Tanker Fleet After Disaster Near Rügen

(Kyiv) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has labeled a damaged Russian tanker near the German island of Rügen an “oil bomb,” urging for the termination of Russia’s tanker fleet, which he claims poses a severe environmental threat. The tanker, known as Eventin, was carrying nearly 100,000 tons of oil when it ran aground, and Zelenskyy expressed relief that the situation had not escalated into a catastrophic environmental disaster.

In a post on social media platform X, Zelenskyy described the Eventin as an immediate danger, calling it an “oil bomb” that fortunately did not explode. He emphasized that this incident highlights a broader, ongoing problem, as Russia utilizes a fleet of tankers to transport oil in ways that evade international sanctions. Zelenskyy argued that each tanker represents a potential threat to the environment, with the Russian fleet effectively functioning as a fleet of ticking time bombs.

“The Eventin is just one example of hundreds of these dangerous vessels,” Zelenskyy wrote. “Moscow uses them to fund its military operations, including the missiles, attack drones, and bombs that are killing people every day in Ukraine. Russia is jeopardizing the environment to finance its deadly actions.”

The Ukrainian president continued by thanking countries and global leaders who have worked to counteract Russia’s financial activities, which he said directly contribute to Moscow’s war efforts. He called for further international action to curb Russian profits from these sanctioned oil shipments, which continue to fuel the conflict. Zelenskyy’s call to action extended to stopping the Russian tanker fleet entirely in order to cut off a key financial lifeline for the Kremlin.

The Eventin tanker, which is part of the so-called “shadow fleet” used by Russia to circumvent sanctions, was stranded in the Baltic Sea off Rügen. The vessel’s oil cargo poses an immense environmental risk, and its presence in European waters underscores the ongoing challenges of combating Russia’s attempts to bypass sanctions and continue its aggressive actions in Ukraine and beyond.