Tanker accident off Rügen: Baerbock sharply criticizes Russia

Near disaster off Rügen

Baerbock sharply criticizes Russia after the tanker accident

January 10, 2025 – 7:39 p.mReading time: 2 min.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (archive photo): Efforts have been underway to sanction the Russian shadow fleet for months. (Quelle: IMAGO/imago-images-bilder)

Putin circumvents European sanctions with his fleet of scrap tankers. Foreign Minister Baerbock finds clear words after the accident in the Baltic Sea.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has sharply criticized Russia over an oil tanker that wrecked off the island of Rügen. “It is precisely this scenario that I and my colleagues from the Baltic Sea region have repeatedly warned about,” she said on Friday evening. “Russia is endangering our European security not only with its war of aggression against Ukraine, which violates international law, but also with cut cables, moved border buoys, disinformation campaigns, GPS jammers, and also with dilapidated oil tankers.”

The maneuverable 274 meter long tanker “Eventin”, which is said to have 99,000 tons of crude oil on board, sails under the Panama flag. A tugboat prevented the tanker from getting out of control. “The ship in distress is now being held in position with the towing connection to prevent uncontrolled drifting,” said a statement from the German Central Command for Maritime Emergencies. The tanker was on its way from Russia to Egypt.

“With the nefarious use of a fleet of rusty tankers, Putin not only circumvents the sanctions, but also accepts that tourism on the Baltic Sea will come to a standstill – be it in the Baltics, in Poland or here,” criticized Baerbock. It is part of the “Russian plan” to accept such consequences. The Green politician combined her criticism with an attack on the SPD and the Union: “Anyone who turns a blind eye to this threat is acting just as negligently as those who presented NordStream 2 as a purely economic project.”

Baerbock pointed out that the sanctions listing of the Russian shadow fleet had been pushed forward for months. “We have ensured that over 70 ships are already sanctioned by the EU.” The Foreign Office said that Germany had actively campaigned against Russian sanctions evasion on several issues. Eleven of the 52 additional ships listed in the 15th sanctions package decided in mid-December 2024 were proposed by Germany. An attempt is also being made to make it clear to the affected flag states that the ships are being used to evade sanctions and that they pose environmental risks.