by Martin Aslan The Russian shadow fleet refers to a group of oil tankers used covertly by Russia to export its oil despite international sanctions. Approximately 70% of Russian oil exported by sea is transported on these vessels. It is difficult to estimate the size of this fleet, but it could number more than 1,000 ships. Most of these vessels are in poor condition and sometimes require extensive maintenance. Part of the maritime traffic passes through the Black Sea and thus transits the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits in Turkey. While this passage is “mandatory,” technical, logistical, and commercial stopovers are prohibited. Thus, Turkey is complicit in the export of Russian oil despite the embargo imposed by the EU in 2022 and US sanctions against Russia. The ports of Tuzla, Yalova, and Samsun serve as support bases for the shadow fleet From November 2025 to the present, the shipyards in Tuzla and Yalova have hosted ships from the Russian shadow fleet for heavy maintenance ...