Germany is working to secure a drifting Russian oil tanker, believed to be part of Moscow’s “shadow fleet” used to fund its war in Ukraine, after it lost control in the Baltic Sea.

The German Foreign Office stressed on Monday that diplomats are pushing to take further action against Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" of ageing tanker ships used to export oil and circumvent strict Western sanctions.

German authorities have said an oil tanker stuck in German waters belongs to Russia's "shadow fleet", which Berlin says is used to avoid sanctions. Germany's maritime authorities (CCME) said on Friday that the Panamanian-flagged ship, known as Eventin, had lost power and steering, meaning tugboats were deployed to secure the vessel.

German maritime authorities said Saturday they are towing a disabled oil tanker in the Baltic Sea thought to be part of Russia's clandestine "shadow fleet" used to evade Western sanctions.

The vessels Mermar, Huihai Pacific and Olia carrying more than 2 million barrels of oil left Russian ports earlier in January.

Three tankers carrying over 2 million barrels of Russian crude oil are floating off China's coast after they were hit by fresh U.S. sanctions last week, Bloombergreported on Jan. 13. The vessels are allegedly part of the so-called "shadow fleet,