A Russian tanker that is part of Moscow's "shadow fleet" is now at the center of growing worries in Europe. The ship, called Boracay, has been directly linked to several drone attacks that caused problems at airports, spied on infrastructure, and raised fears of hybrid warfare in NATO countries.

Authorities think that the ship's trail matches a lot of drone activity in Denmark, Germany, and France, and it was finally caught off the coast of Brest. Until now, Russia's shadow fleet was mostly known for getting around oil sanctions. This case shows some of the fleet's more shady tactics, as per a report by The Telegraph.

What did the Boracay have to do with the drone attacks?

The Boracay, an 18-year-old Russian tanker, left Russia on September 20 and sailed through the Baltic Sea. Over the next few days, drone swarms caused problems at airports and other infrastructure all over Northern Europe. Tracking data showed that the ship was within 50 nautical miles of Copenhagen on September 22, the day the city's airport had to close because drones were flying over it, as per a report by The Telegraph.

ALSO READ: D4vd's shocking legal move as cops probe teen remains found in his abandoned Tesla; here's what he did

Four more Danish airports were affected by drone sightings between September 23 and 25, as the ship went south down Denmark's western coast and around the northern tip. Drones were seen near German infrastructure in Kiel on September 25. They were aimed at a power plant, a shipyard, a canal, a hospital, and the regional parliament. At that exact moment, the Boracay was seen off the coast of Germany's North Sea, as per a report by The Telegraph.

What makes this ship part of Russia's secret fleet?

The Boracay is not just any tanker. It is part of Russia's "shadow fleet," which is a group of ships that move oil to get around Western sanctions. The ship has had many names over the years, including Pacific Apollo in 2007, Virgus 13, P Fos, Odysseus, Varuna, Kiwala, and even Pushpa in some records.

ALSO READ: Jack Posobiec exposed: Paper trail shows MAGA’s voter fraud watchdog voting where he doesn’t live


It is now owned by Baaj Shipping Limited, a brass plate company based in the Seychelles. It was fraudulently flagged in Benin after going through Gambia and Malawi, as per a report by The Telegraph.


Inspections have shown that things are not going well. In April, Estonian port officials found 40 problems on board, including safety certificates that weren't valid and broken radio equipment.


Experts say that ships like these, which are not properly maintained and don't have insurance, not only break sanctions but also pose a big environmental risk if something goes wrong, as per a report by The Telegraph.

What have leaders done?

On Wednesday night, French authorities stopped the Boracay off the coast of Brest. Two crew members said they were the captain and first officer. Prosecutor Stephane Kellenberger is now in charge of the investigation.


Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, called the French action "piracy" and said it was wrong. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had already warned on September 28 that Russia was using shadow-fleet ships to "launch and control" drones over European cities.

ALSO READ: 3I/ATLAS tracking - is it true the interstellar comet is hurtling towards the Earth?

What dangers does the Shadow Fleet pose?

The Boracay is more than just a way to avoid sanctions. Experts are worried that these ships are now being used for hybrid warfare, which mixes secret drone operations with their unclear financial and legal status. Peter Aylott from the UK Chamber of Shipping brought up one of the most important issues, “The insurance is particularly what everyone is worried about, because if there is an accident of a Russian tanker, or a tanker controlled by Russian interests, and there’s a big pollution incident, who’s going to pay, who’s going to sort it out, and how’s it going to be done?”

The case shows that Russia's shadow fleet is no longer just an economic weapon; it could also be a military one. The "drone mothership" that is threatening both Europe's security and environment is now in French custody.

FAQs

Why did the French government take over Boracay?
It was thought to have sent out drones that were linked to airport closures and monitoring of infrastructure in Europe.

Where did the Boracay go during the drone attacks?
Close to Copenhagen, Denmark, a few Danish airports, and later the North Sea coast of Germany.