Germany seizes Russian oil tanker in Baltic Sea

Germany has seized an oil tanker linked to Russia's shadow fleet. The tanker, called Eventin, was found adrift in the Baltic Sea in January. It was flagged under Panama but was deemed to belong to Russia's fleet when it lost power and steering. The ship was located north of the German island of Rügen. German authorities took control of the vessel, expressing concerns about Russia's actions in Europe. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock highlighted the risks posed by Russia's activities, including the use of outdated vessels. After monitoring the Eventin for two months, Germany has now formally seized the ship and its cargo of about 100,000 tons of crude oil. The total value of the ship and oil is around $43 million. Originally, the tanker was supposed to transport oil from the Russian port of Ust-Luga to Port Said in Egypt. When found adrift, it was moved to safer waters near Sassnitz to prevent an oil spill. The Eventin was also added to the latest European Union sanctions list against Russia. This move included sanctions on 74 additional vessels, bringing the total to 153. The EU stated that these vessels are linked to Russia's energy revenue.