The French navy has detained a suspected Russian oil tanker in the Atlantic Ocean, in an operation supported by the United Kingdom and other partners, President Emmanuel Macron announced. The vessel, identified as the Tagor, was seized on Sunday in international waters approximately 400 nautical miles west of Brittany.
According to French authorities, the tanker was en route from Murmansk in northwest Russia when it was boarded by commandos descending from a helicopter. Macron posted a video of the operation on X, stating that the ship was subject to international sanctions and that the action was taken in strict compliance with the law of the sea.
The Tagor was flying a Cameroonian flag, which French officials suspect was false. After boarding, an inspection confirmed irregularities with the flag. The vessel, which had 23 crew members, is being escorted by the French navy to an anchorage point for further checks. Guillaume Le Rasle, a spokesperson for the Atlantic maritime prefecture, said the tanker was under EU and US sanctions and was “almost empty” at the time of boarding.
Russia’s embassy in Paris has requested information about any Russian citizens on board, as the captain is believed to be a Russian national. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov condemned the seizure as “illegal” and bordering on “international piracy,” adding that Russia is taking measures to ensure the safety of its cargo.
France and the UK have vowed to disrupt Russia’s “shadow fleet” of vessels evading sanctions. Since September, France has boarded three other such ships, which were released after fines were paid. In April, France announced plans to double penalties for ships that fail to fly a flag or refuse to comply. Nearly 600 vessels suspected of being part of the shadow fleet are subject to EU sanctions.
