French forces have intercepted a sanctioned oil tanker linked to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet in the Mediterranean Sea near Sicily, in what Paris describes as part of a broader effort to enforce sanctions against Moscow’s energy exports.
The vessel, identified as the Deliver, was detained by French naval personnel on 23 June. It is considered part of Russia’s shadow fleet and was sailing under the flag of Cameroon, according to maritime tracking data. The ship was reportedly traveling from the Russian port of Primorsk to Singapore when it was stopped.
The operation was confirmed by French President Emmanuel Macron, who said the seizure reflects a coordinated European approach to sanction enforcement. He also pointed to a recent similar move by the United Kingdom, which detained another vessel linked to the same network of ships used to transport Russian oil outside formal restrictions.
La Marine Nationale a arraisonné mardi le pétrolier Deliver alors qu’il transitait au large de la Sicile en infraction avec le droit de la mer. Cette nouvelle action contre la flotte fantôme, conduite quelques jours après une opération similaire par le Royaume-Uni… pic.twitter.com/5Gjn43MhLr
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 25, 2026
