France has seized an oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea that is suspected of being part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet”, a network of vessels allegedly used to circumvent international sanctions on Russian oil exports, according to BBC reports.
French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that the tanker, named Grinch, was subject to international sanctions and was suspected of sailing under a false flag.
The French Navy, with support from allied forces including the United Kingdom, boarded the vessel early Thursday between Spain and Morocco. French maritime authorities said inspections confirmed irregularities related to the ship’s flag registration.
The Russian Embassy in Paris stated it had not been informed about the seizure.
The so-called “shadow fleet” refers to a covert network of aging oil tankers with unclear ownership and insurance, allegedly used by Moscow to bypass Western sanctions imposed over Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Authorities said the Grinch was traveling from Murmansk, Russia’s Arctic port, when it was intercepted. Ship-tracking services MarineTraffic and VesselFinder indicated the tanker was flying the Comoros flag.
Announcing the seizure on X, Macron stated:
“We are determined to uphold international law and ensure the effective enforcement of sanctions.”
He added that shadow fleet operations help finance Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, noting that the vessel had been diverted.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed that the Royal Navy provided tracking and monitoring support, with HMS Dagger following the tanker through the Strait of Gibraltar.
“Together with our allies, we are strengthening our response to shadow fleet vessels to cut off the funding that fuels Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine,” Healey said.
The United Kingdom has sanctioned 544 vessels linked to Russia’s shadow fleet.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the move, calling it “exactly the kind of determination needed” to prevent Russian oil revenues from financing the war.
“These ships must be stopped. Would it not be fair to confiscate and sell the oil they transport?” Zelensky wrote on X.
