Greece has impounded a Russian oil tanker off the island of Evia, the Greek coastguard said on Tuesday, as part of EU sanctions imposed on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.

Earlier this month, the EU banned Russian-flagged vessels from the 27-nation bloc’s ports, with some exemptions, as it adopted new sweeping sanctions against Russia for what the Kremlin describes as a “special military operation”.

The 115,500-deadweight tonnage Russian-flagged Pegas, with 19 Russian crew members on board, was seized near Karystos on the southern coast of Evia, which lies just off the Greek mainland near Athens.

The Russian embassy in Athens, the Greek capital, said on Twitter that it was looking into the case and was in contact with Greek authorities on the issue.

“It has been seized as part of EU sanctions,” a Greek shipping ministry official said.

A coastguard official said the ship’s oil cargo had not been confiscated.