The French navy has detained a suspected Russian oil tanker in the Atlantic Ocean, marking the latest effort to combat Moscow's shadow fleet of vessels that violate international sanctions. French President Emmanuel Macron announced the operation on Sunday, stating that the vessel, identified as the Tagor, was intercepted in international waters more than 400 nautical miles (740 kilometers) west of Brittany with assistance from the United Kingdom and other partners.
Details of the Seizure
According to French authorities, the Tagor was en route from Murmansk in northwestern Russia when it was boarded by French commandos. Macron posted a video on X showing the operation, which included commandos descending from a helicopter onto the ship. He emphasized that the operation was conducted in strict compliance with the law of the sea.
Macron wrote: "This operation took place in the Atlantic Ocean, on the high seas, with the support of several partners, including the United Kingdom, in strict compliance with the law of the sea." He added, "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."
Russian Response
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov condemned the seizure, calling it illegal and bordering on international piracy. He stated that Russia is taking measures to ensure the safety of its cargo. The Russian embassy in Paris requested information from French authorities about any Russian citizens on board the Tagor, noting that the captain is believed to be a Russian citizen.
Flag Irregularities
The vessel was flying a Cameroonian flag falsely, according to the French maritime prefecture. It was heading toward Limbe, a coastal city in Cameroon. The Atlantic maritime prefecture said the operation aimed to verify the ship's nationality due to suspicions of flying a false flag. After boarding, an examination of documents confirmed the irregularity, and the vessel was diverted at the request of the public prosecutor.
The Tagor, which had 23 crew members, is being escorted by the French navy to an anchorage point for further checks. Guillaume Le Rasle, a spokesperson for the prefecture, said the tanker was under EU and US sanctions and was known and tracked. He noted that the ship, which has frequently changed flags, was almost empty at the time of boarding.
Broader Context
France and the UK have pledged to obstruct ships linked to Russia's shadow fleet that pass through their waters. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced in March that he had authorized the UK military to board such vessels. However, shipping data shows that dozens of Russia-linked ships under sanctions continue to cross UK waters.
Shadow fleet vessels often engage in flag-hopping, changing flags frequently or using invalid registrations to evade tracking. Since September, France has boarded three other ships believed to belong to Russia's shadow fleet. Those vessels were allowed to sail after their owners paid fines.
Previous Incidents
In September, the French navy boarded the Boracay, which claimed to be flagged in Benin. Its Chinese captain was tried in absentia, and a French court issued an arrest warrant and a one-year jail sentence. In January, French forces impounded the Grinch, and in March, the Deyna, which had sailed from Murmansk under a Mozambican flag, was detained in Marseille.
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 vessels in Russia's shadow fleet since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Nearly 600 vessels suspected of being part of that fleet are subject to EU sanctions.
