Greece Arrests Russian Crude Oil Tanker

The ship was heading for the Peloponnese.

The Greek Coast Guard detained a Russian oil tanker on the way to its destination after it was intercepted off the coast of the island of Evia on Tuesday, writes Kathimerini.

A Russian oil tanker was en route to the Peloponnese to transfer its cargo to another ship, but bad weather forced the ship to sail to safety in a sheltered bay off the seaside town of Karystos in southern Evia, where it was intercepted.

"The Pegas vessel flying the Russian flag with 19 Russian crew members on board was arrested near the coastal town of Karystos on the island of Evia," a spokesman for the Greek Shipping Ministry said.

The arrest order for the ship was issued by the country's anti-money laundering authority "in accordance with the guidelines for the sanctions imposed on Russia by the European Union and NATO in connection with its invasion of Ukraine." The coast guard clarified that the ship itself was arrested, and not its oil cargo.