See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy JADA BAS, REPORTER Published: 14:50 BST, 25 June 2026 | Updated: 14:55 BST, 25 June 2026
French soldiers intercepted a Russia-linked oil tanker off the coast of Sicily in the latest seizure aimed at combatting Moscow's sanctions-busting 'shadow fleet'. The vessel, which was flying the Cameroonian flag and sailing from Russia's Baltic port of Primorsk, was boarded because of doubts over the validity of its flag, the maritime prefecture said.The French navy was escorting the tanker to an anchorage spot for further checks, it added.President Emmanuel Macron said the Deliver was linked to Moscow's 'shadow fleet', used to circumvent Western sanctions imposed after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.Writing on X, the French president said: 'On Tuesday, the French navy boarded the oil tanker Deliver as it was passing off the coast of Sicily in breach of maritime law.'This latest action against the shadow fleet, conducted just days after a similar operation by the United Kingdom, illustrates the resolve of the Europeans. 'We will not allow the shadow fleet to evade sanctions and fund Russia's war effort. Europe is determined. 'It will pursue all necessary efforts to increase the cost of the war for Russia and enable the emergence of a robust and lasting peace in Ukraine.' French soldiers intercepted the oil tanker 'Deliver' in the Mediterranean Sea and suspected of being part of Russia's 'shadow fleet' The Russian captain was taken into custody and later released President Emmanuel Macron said the Deliver was linked to Moscow's 'shadow fleet', used to circumvent Western sanctions imposed after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 This is the fifth oil tanker suspected of being part of this 'shadow fleet' that France has boarded since September 2025The vessels frequently change the flags they fly, a practice known as flag-hopping, or use invalid registrations in an attempt to escape tracking.This is the fifth oil tanker suspected of being part of this 'shadow fleet' that France has boarded since September 2025.In late May, French authorities with British help detained the Tagor in the Atlantic on suspicion of flying a false flag.The Russian captain was taken into custody and later released.The prosecutor said at the time the captain faced up to a year in prison and a €150,000 (£129,000) fine over a suspected lack of a flag and refusing to comply with orders from the navy.The French navy in September boarded the Boracay, which claimed to be flagged in Benin. Its Chinese captain was put on trial in absentia and a French court in March issued an arrest warrant and a one-year jail sentence against him.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 In January, French forces impounded another suspected Russian tanker, the Grinch, and in March, the Deyna that sailed from Murmansk under a Mozambican flag was detained in Marseille.They were later freed after paying fines.In April, France announced a plan to double penalties for ships that fail to fly a flag or refuse to comply.Several Western countries have imposed sanctions on hundreds of suspected shadow fleet vessels over the Ukraine invasion, with EU sanctions targeting nearly 600 ships.Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned the detention of Russia-linked vessels as 'piracy.'
