Despite increased Swedish efforts to intercept and sanctions against them, Russian oil tankers operating as part of a “shadow fleet” continue to frequently navigate waters near Sweden. An investigation by Swedish public broadcaster SVT reveals that 262 such vessels have transported oil through the Baltic Sea this year alone. These tankers are utilized to circumvent international sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. Swedish authorities have been conducting boardings and inspections, but the traffic persists. The Swedish Armed Forces state they are prepared for potential escalation, according to operations chief Ewa Skoog Haslum. The continued activity raises concerns about potential security risks and the effectiveness of current sanctions enforcement.