A number of European environmental organizations are concerned about the latest initiatives of Russian politicians regarding the activities of the shadow fleet. Experts emphasize the special danger
For example, the former head of Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin, after the detention by Great Britain of the tanker SMYRTOS, which is associated with the Russian «shadow fleet», proposed placing explosives on Russian civilian ships. He noted that this would allow such ships to be destroyed in the event of their capture.
Russian military bloggers also supported Rogozin’s idea. They noted that now such a proposal no longer seems strange.
According to European researchers, such initiatives will lead to large-scale environmental disasters in the waters of European countries. Each explosion of a tanker will lead to an oil leak and colossal pollution of the marine environment. As a result of the poisoning of the waters, thousands of residents of coastal countries and hundreds of thousands of animals could die.
Environmentalists are demanding a stronger fight against the Russian shadow fleet, in particular, increasing the number of inspections of tankers carrying oil and liquefied natural gas from Russian ports for possible explosives. Researchers also suggest strengthening the responsibility of such ships.
