By Gabriel Ani
PARIS — The French Navy intercepted and boarded an oil tanker originating from Russia in the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday, an operation French President Emmanuel Macron described as a crackdown on the “shadow fleet” used to bypass international sanctions.
The vessel, which was suspected of flying a false flag to evade detection, was intercepted on the high seas with assistance from several allied nations. Macron confirmed the seizure in a public statement, emphasizing that the ship was diverted following the boarding.
“We will not tolerate any violation,” Macron said. “The activities of the ‘shadow fleet’ contribute to financing the war of aggression against Ukraine.”
The French government stated that the operation was conducted in “strict compliance” with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. While the specific name of the tanker and its final destination were not immediately released, French authorities confirmed a judicial investigation into the vessel’s activities has been opened.
The “shadow fleet” refers to a network of aging, often under-insured tankers used by Russia to transport oil above the price caps and outside the sanctions regimes imposed by Western powers following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
“We are determined to uphold international law and to ensure the effective enforcement of sanctions,” Macron added.
This maritime intervention marks a significant escalation in European efforts to disrupt Russian energy revenues. It remains unclear which allied nations provided support for the operation, though NATO members have increased surveillance in the Mediterranean recently to monitor suspicious shipping patterns.
The diverted vessel is expected to be escorted to a secure port for further inspection and legal proceedings.
