France Seizes Russian “Shadow Fleet” Tanker, Targets Sanctions-Busting Operation
France has seized an oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea suspected of being part of Russia’s sanction‑busting “shadow fleet,” a clandestine network of vessels used to evade international sanctions on Russian oil exports.
President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that the French navy, acting with support from allied partners, intercepted and boarded the tanker Grinch on the high seas between Spain and Morocco. He said the ship was subject to international sanctions and believed to be flying a false flag.
Macron, speaking on social media, said the vessel had been diverted and an investigation launched as part of efforts to uphold international law and ensure effective enforcement of sanctions.
“We are determined to uphold international law and to ensure the effective enforcement of sanctions,” he said. “The activities of the ‘shadow fleet’ contribute to financing the war of aggression against Ukraine.”
The French navy operation was conducted under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and involved intelligence and tracking support from allied forces, including Britain’s Royal Navy.
French maritime authorities said a search of the Grinch confirmed irregularities with its documentation and flag status. The vessel, which had sailed from the Arctic port of Murmansk in northern Russia, was under escort as it was taken for further inspection.
Russia’s embassy in Paris said it had not been informed in advance of the ship’s seizure and was seeking information on the crew’s nationality to determine whether any Russian citizens were aboard.
The seizure drew praise from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said such actions are necessary to stop Russian oil from financing Moscow’s war effort and suggested that seized oil might be confiscated and sold.
Western nations have increasingly targeted vessels in Russia’s shadow fleet — thousands of ageing tankers that obscure ownership and registration to carry oil to destinations such as India and China, often outside normal maritime insurance networks.
The move underscores growing efforts by Europe and its partners to enforce sanctions and restrict revenue streams linked to the conflict in Ukraine.
