Ukraine war: Huge tankers transferring Russian oil blocked by activists in kayaks

Two tankers off the coast of Denmark were blocked from transferring 100,000 tonnes of Russian oil by environmental activists in kayaks and small boats.

Members of Greenpeace positioned themselves between the enormous vessels, as the organisation called for an embargo of Russian fuels to stop funding the invasion of Ukraine.

They placed themselves in kayaks and rhib boats, nestled in between the Seaoath and Pertamina Prime tankers near Frederikshavn, Denmark, preventing the ship-to-ship oil transfer.

Image: Protesters sailed alongside an enormous Russian tanker in Danish waters

'I am using my body to get in the way'

Olga Lupilina, one of the dozen activists camping out at sea, and a Russian herself, said: "Together with other activists from across Europe, I am using my body to get in the way of the tanker.

"I'm with Greenpeace Denmark, and we have been protesting fossil fuels for years. I always knew that oil fuels war as well as the climate crisis.

"However, with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it suddenly became very personal to me."

Image: Olga Lupilina lived most of her life in Russia and has family and loved ones in the country. Pic: Kristian B

Birgitte Lesanner of Greenpeace Nordic told Sky News: "The Russian invasion of Ukraine has made many people realise that fossil fuels do not only ruin the climate, our dependency on oil, coal, and gas, but also fosters wars, conflict, and injustice.

"Every time Russian oil or gas is purchased, Putin's war chest grows and so far, at least 299 supertankers with fossil fuels have left Russia since the start of the war in Ukraine. That is plain wrong."

Ms Lesanner has called on the Danish government "to immediately - together with the EU - make an import ban on Russian oil, coal, and gas" and then turn off their dependency on fossil fuels when "at all possible".

She added: "We already have the needed green solutions, and they are cheaper and more attainable than ever before."

Greenpeace Denmark has been regularly posting on social media and updating followers on their progress.

UPDATE: Activists have now spent a night at sea sleeping in a small raft while blocking two oil tankers from new attempts to transfer Russian oil at sea in Danish waters. We will continue to protest oil fuelling war.#StopFuellingWar pic.twitter.com/P4TCXIisZo — Greenpeace i Danmark (@greenpeacedk) April 1, 2022

After 24 hours of obstruction, the activists were forcefully removed by police and the ship-to-ship oil transfer went on as normal.

The activists have not been arrested or detained, Sky News understands.