At least 14 tankers linked to Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" sailed through Bulgarian and Romanian waters during the first seven months of 2026, spending a combined 418 hours in the territorial waters of the two countries, according to an analysis by Greenpeace Bulgaria.
The findings come days after Greenpeace reported oil slicks near the sanctioned tanker Kairos, which has been anchored off Burgas since December 2025 after being struck by Ukraine in the Black Sea. The vessel is part of Russia's shadow fleet and is sanctioned by both the European Union and the United Kingdom.
Russia uses the shadow fleet to bypass international restrictions on its oil exports. The Greenpeace analysis, based on Lloyd's List of Shadow Tankers, identifies vessels as high-risk based on factors including the manipulation or disabling of Automatic Identification Systems, frequent changes of flags or ownership, inadequate insurance and voyages to ports in countries such as Russia, Iran and Venezuela.
The organization said the scale of the shadow fleet's activity in the Black Sea is growing. Between January 1 and August 1, at least 14 such tankers passed through Bulgarian and Romanian waters, with some spending several days in the area.
