The French navy has intercepted and boarded an oil tanker linked to Russia and subject to international sanctions, an operation confirmed by French President Emmanuel Macron, who described the move as part of efforts to enforce restrictions on Moscow’s energy exports.
In a post on X, Macron said the operation took place in the Atlantic Ocean on the high seas and involved cooperation with several partners, including the United Kingdom. He stressed that it was carried out in accordance with international maritime law.
“It is unacceptable for ships to circumvent international sanctions, violate the law of the sea, and finance the war that Russia has been waging against Ukraine for more than four years,” Macron said, also confirming that the vessel involved was the tanker Tagor.
According to the Maritime Prefecture of the Atlantic, the intervention occurred more than 400 nautical miles (around 740 kilometers) west of Brittany. The ship had departed from Murmansk, Russia, and was suspected of operating under a false flag.
Officials said boarding teams inspected the vessel and reviewed documentation, which confirmed irregularities regarding the flag it was flying. Following the inspection, and at the request of the public prosecutor, the tanker was diverted under international legal procedures. The prefecture did not initially identify the ship by name.
