A EU mission led by Italy has descended on a Russian tanker from the "phantom fleet" in the Mediterranean Sea.

A European Union mission, led by Italy, conducted a raid on Sunday on a tanker belonging to Russia's phantom fleet. The Italian Ministry of Defense announced that the purpose of this action was to verify the nationality and flag of the vessel.

This intervention is part of the broader efforts of the EU to monitor Russia's maritime activities in the context of current geopolitical tensions. Russia's phantom fleet is known for operating ships under various flags, which complicates the identification of the real owners.