The French navy on Thursday intercepted a Russian oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea that is suspected of being part of a so-called shadow fleet used by Moscow to export oil despite international sanctions
The French navy on Thursday intercepted a Russian oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea that is suspected of being part of a so-called shadow fleet used by Moscow to export oil despite international sanctions.
“This operation was carried out … with the support of several of our allies. It was conducted in full compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” French President Emmanuel Macron said in a post on X.
According to a separate statement from French maritime police, the interception took place on the high seas in the western Mediterranean, between the southern coast of Spain and the northern coast of Morocco.
The operation was supported by navies from other countries, including Britain, the statement added.
Russia adapts to sanctions
The European Union has imposed 19 rounds of sanctions on Russia, but Moscow has adapted to many of the restrictions and continues to export millions of barrels of oil, primarily to countries such as India and China, often at discounted rates.
A significant portion of this oil is transported by a so-called shadow fleet of vessels that operate outside the Western maritime industry.
The intercepted tanker, identified as the GRINCH, had sailed from Murmansk in northern Russia and is subject to international sanctions.
Macron said the vessel was also suspected of operating under a false flag.
According to data from LSEG, the tanker was sailing under the flag of Comoros.
“The activities of the shadow fleet contribute to financing (Russia’s) war of aggression against Ukraine,” Macron added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post on X that the operation was “exactly the kind of resolve needed”.
He suggested the oil carried by tankers of the shadow fleet be confiscated and sold.
The case was referred to the prosecutor of Marseille, who handles matters related to maritime law. The prosecutor ordered the ship to be diverted for further investigation.
Moscow said France had not notified Russia about the interception, TASS news agency reported.
The Russian consulate in Marseille is trying to find out whether Russian citizens are among the crew members, TASS reported, citing the Russian embassy in France.
In October, France detained another sanctioned tanker, the Boracay, off its west coast and released it after a few days.
With inputs from agencies
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