Germany has turned away a Russian-linked oil tanker from its Baltic Sea waters, marking the first known European action against Moscow’s so-called shadow fleet.

On Saturday, Sweden announced new regulations that will increase inspections of foreign vessels in the Baltic Sea starting July 1, intensifying efforts to crack down on Russia’s “shadow fleet” of tankers used to evade sanctions on its oil trade.

Ships of the Leningrad detachment of the Russian Baltic Fleet have carried out live artillery firing at sea and air targets in the Baltic Sea waters during drills, according to the fleet's press service.