Albania Turns Away Tanker Linked to Russia’s Shadow Fleet

**Albania Denies Entry to Tanker Linked to Russia’s “Shadow Fleet”**

*Durres, Albania – September 1, 2026* – Albanian port authorities barred the Sierra Leone‑flagged tanker **Hanuman** from entering the Port of Durrës after the vessel was identified by Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR), as part of Russia’s so‑called “shadow fleet.”

The decision, reported by the *Tirana Times*, marks a notable instance of Albania enforcing the sanctions regime adopted by Western governments against Russia. The move follows a previous call‑at of the same vessel at an Albanian port, raising questions about the consistency of sanctions enforcement.

Albanian officials did not provide further details on the specific criteria used to classify the Hanuman as a shadow‑fleet asset. The term “shadow fleet” generally refers to a network of commercial vessels that are alleged to be used by Russia to evade international sanctions and transport prohibited goods, including oil and other strategic commodities.

The incident underscores Albania’s ongoing effort to align its maritime operations with the broader European Union and NATO sanctions framework targeting Russian entities. No information was released regarding any subsequent actions taken against the vessel or its owners.

The *Tirana Times* article can be accessed at its original URL: https://www.tiranatimes.com/albania-turns-away-tanker-linked-to-russias-shadow-fleet.

Article source: tiranatimes.com | Image credit: Tirana Times