Sweden's Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M) states that the country will continue to act against vessels in Russia's shadow fleet violating maritime law. Russia has threatened Sweden, Finland, and France following recent boardings. The Coast Guard and police have boarded two suspected ships in Swedish territorial waters.
Sweden's Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M) stresses that the country will uphold international maritime law despite threats from Russia. “We will intervene in Swedish territorial waters against actors who do not comply with maritime law,” he tells Sydsvenskan. Bohlin describes the authorities' actions as more decisive, referring to recent boardings of vessels from Russia's so-called shadow fleet. The Coast Guard and the National Police's special operations unit have boarded two ships in a short time after they entered Swedish territorial waters. Russian citizens were arrested in both cases, suspected of using false documents, a serious offence. “We see a more action-oriented approach from law enforcement authorities,” Bohlin says. The improvements are attributed to increased funding and new legal possibilities for the Coast Guard since March 1 this year. The government highlighted the need for enhanced preparedness in the 2025 regulatory letter and is investigating further arming of personnel and vessels. “This is partly a consequence of the Coast Guard receiving additional funding as well as new legal preconditions to conduct work that can result in interventions against ships sailing under false flags,” the minister explains. He views this as part of a broader shift towards total defence and heightened internal and external security. Russia has warned Sweden, Finland, and France over their boardings, calling them unpunished. Bohlin dismisses this: “It is careless rhetoric and does not correspond to reality.” He does not rule out more operations but leaves decisions to the authorities and refrains from speculating on risks of encountering armed personnel on board.
