A helicopter of the French Navy hovering over the Mozambican-flagged oil tanker Deyna during an interception operation in the western Mediterranean Sea. FRENCH DEFENSE STAFF/AFP
The French navy intercepted an oil tanker sailing from Russia in the Mediterranean on Friday, March 20, President Emmanuel Macron said, adding France would press ahead with its efforts to back Ukraine. "This morning in the Mediterranean, the French Navy intercepted and boarded another vessel from the shadow fleet, the Deyna," Macron said on X.
Local authorities said the navy intercepted the Mozambican-flagged vessel – which sailed from Murmansk in northwestern Russia – over the regularity of its flag. The ship will be escorted to an anchorage for further checks, the maritime prefecture added.
Macron labeled vessels from Russia's "shadow fleet" "profiteers of war," accusing them of bypassing international sanctions and violating the law of the sea. "They line their pockets while helping finance Russia's war effort," he said.
Despite the war in Iran, France will keep supporting Ukraine, Macron added. "We remain resolute," he said. "The war involving Iran will not deflect France from its support for Ukraine, where Russia's war of aggression continues unabated."
