Russian ambassador to Sweden Sergei Belyayev said on the 18th that since the end of 2025, Sweden has detained too many cargo ships serving Russian interests. Such actions are politically motivated and violate international maritime law. Belyayev told RIA Novosti on the same day that Sweden mainly charged the crew on the basis that these cargo ships were suspected of flying a “false flag,” but was unable to make any “substantial charges.” In fact, the move is aimed at putting pressure on commercial operators that serve Russia's foreign trade. Sweden has detained “innocent vessels passing through Swedish territorial waters” on the basis that the relevant vessels belong to the so-called “shadow fleet” and that the relevant targets are included in the EU sanctions list. This move is “discriminatory” and violates international maritime law.

Russian ambassador to Sweden Sergei Belyayev said on the 18th that since the end of 2025, Sweden has detained too many cargo ships serving Russian interests. Such actions are politically motivated and violate international maritime law. Belyayev told RIA Novosti on the same day that Sweden mainly charged the crew on the basis that these cargo ships were suspected of flying a “false flag,” but was unable to make any “substantial charges.” In fact, the move is aimed at putting pressure on commercial operators that serve Russia's foreign trade. Sweden has detained “innocent vessels passing through Swedish territorial waters” on the basis that the relevant vessels belong to the so-called “shadow fleet” and that the relevant targets are included in the EU sanctions list. This move is “discriminatory” and violates international maritime law.