Europe, NATO Target Russia's Shadow Fleet

European and NATO efforts to counter Russia’s expanded 'shadow fleet' have broadened amid concerns that Moscow's economy is locked into a long-term, militarised war footing. Western leaders, publicly led by French President Emmanuel Macron, are coordinating a roughly 35-country coalition with NATO to detain suspicious vessels and curb maritime channels that help fund the war. The shadow fleet has grown from a few hundred vessels to about a thousand, complicating maritime security across northern Europe. Ukraine’s upgraded Neptune‑D cruise missile, stretched for greater fuel capacity and a larger warhead, is now estimated to reach up to about 1,000 km, putting Russian bases and facilities well beyond the frontline at risk. Ships such as the unflagged tanker Pushpa have been linked to aggressive Baltic operations and are suspected of launching drones that forced airport closures in Copenhagen and Oslo, prompting intensified NATO and national responses. Analysts warn these naval and aerial gray‑zone tactics aim to test Western resolve, and Europe is stepping up intelligence-sharing, joint defenses and law-enforcement actions to counter continued coercion at sea.