In brief
A French naval operation intercepted the oil tanker Tagor in international waters, a ship linked to Russia’s clandestine shadow fleet. President Emmanuel Macron announced that the seizure complied with maritime law and criticised the vessel’s circumvention of sanctions, while Russia called it a form of piracy. The move is part of a broader European effort, including the UK, to curb Russian oil exports that fund the Ukraine war.
On Sunday, the French Navy, assisted by the United Kingdom, boarded the oil tanker Tagor in international waters about 400 nautical miles west of Brittany.
Authorities said the vessel was flying a false flag to evade sanctions imposed on Russian oil exports since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The French Navy boarded the ship with armed officers aboard a helicopter, as shown in a video posted by President Emmanuel Macron on X.
Macron declared the operation “in strict compliance with the law of the sea” and condemned the move by the crew to circumvent sanctions and fund the war against Ukraine. He added that the ships pose a threat to safety and the environment.
The Kremlin called the seizure “bordering on international piracy” and described it as “illegal” but necessary to protect Russian cargo. Moscow’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia was taking measures for the safety of its cargo.
Since September 2025, France has boarded four vessels linked to Russia’s so‑called shadow fleet—a network of tankers with complex ownership that evade sanctions. The recent interception marks the latest in that series.
The United Kingdom has also authorised its navy to board sanctioned Russian ships. Between March and May, nearly 200 shadow‑fleet vessels entered UK waters, according to BBC Verify analysis.
Both France and Britain argue that these ships threaten maritime safety, the environment, and support Russia’s prolonged war in Ukraine.
