The Greek Navy has ramped up its presence in the Laconian Gulf, effectively hindering Russia's use of the area for ship-to-ship oil transfers.
Exercises, which began in May and were temporarily paused, resumed on Tuesday and are slated to continue until at least July 15th. This action aims to disrupt Russia's ability to circumvent sanctions by transferring oil to tankers bound for global markets. While some tankers returned to the area when the exercises briefly paused, most have steered clear.
Despite this setback, Russia has reportedly found an alternative location for these transfers near a Spanish enclave in North Africa. This method involves transporting oil from Russian ports and transferring it onto vessels, some with questionable insurance records, destined for Asia.