Overview
- Belgian forces boarded the Guinea-flagged Ethera during Operation Blue Intruder in the Belgian EEZ with airborne support from French Navy NH90 helicopters.
- Federal prosecutors opened an investigation citing suspected forged documents and a false flag; authorities detained the vessel in Zeebrugge and identified all 21 crew members.
- Ethera has been on EU, U.S. and UK sanctions lists since 2025, and U.S. Treasury reporting links the ship to a network controlled by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani.
- French President Emmanuel Macron called the action a "major blow" to the shadow fleet, while Ukrainian officials urged others to follow suit and Zelensky called for laws enabling confiscation and repurposing of seized oil.
- Russia’s embassy in Belgium said it had not been notified of the legal basis for the seizure and was seeking information on whether any Russian nationals were aboard.