France intercepted and boarded an oil tanker linked to Russia on Thursday, citing violations of international sanctions and suspected falsification of maritime identity documents.
President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the operation, saying the vessel was seized on the high seas in the Mediterranean with support from allied navies. He stressed that the action was conducted in full compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.“We will not tolerate any violation,” Macron said, adding that the ship has been diverted and a judicial investigation opened.Paris accused the vessel of being part of a so-called “shadow fleet” used to bypass sanctions and generate revenue for Moscow’s war in Ukraine. Western governments have increasingly targeted these maritime networks as they seek to enforce price caps and shipping restrictions imposed after Russia’s 2022 invasion. French authorities did not immediately name the vessel or comment on possible detentions, but signaled that sanctions enforcement at sea would intensify in coordination with partners.