The French navy has intercepted a Russian oil tanker in the Mediterranean, suspected of being part of the "shadow fleet" that helps Russia evade sanctions. President Emmanuel Macron announced the operation on X, stating the vessel was boarded and searched for flying a false flag.
The tanker, named Grinch, was located between the southern coast of Spain and northern Morocco and was diverted for further inspection. The Mediterranean Maritime Prefecture confirmed that document checks revealed irregularities regarding the vessel's flag. The ship is being escorted to an anchorage for additional verifications.
The interception is part of intensified efforts by Western powers to crack down on the shadow fleet, which consists of hundreds of aging tankers that transport Russian oil to countries such as India and China. Many of these ships operate under multiple identities and change flags to circumvent sanctions imposed after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the action, saying that vessels should be apprehended and their oil confiscated to stop funding Russia's war. Macron emphasised that the shadow fleet contributes to financing Russia's aggression.
This follows a series of similar interceptions, including the detention of the Boracay off France's west coast in October and a US special forces boarding of a tanker off Venezuela last month. The Russian embassy was not notified beforehand but is seeking information about any Russian crew members.
