French Forces Intercept Russian Shadow Fleet Oil Tanker Off Sicily
French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that French forces had intercepted a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker, Deliver, as it was sailing off the coast of Sicily “in violation of maritime law”. Macron shared video footage appearing to show troops boarding and searching the ship.
The interception comes after the UK announced earlier this month that it had boarded the Russian shadow fleet tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel. The British government said the six-hour operation involved Royal Marine Commandos and law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA), with support from Chinook, Merlin and Wildcat helicopters, a Royal Air Force P-8 and the Royal Navy ships HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury.
According to Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence, Deliver is a Cameroonian-flagged vessel that has been involved in the export of Russian oil since 2024, operating mainly out of ports in the Baltic and Black Sea. Russia uses its shadow fleet to evade Western sanctions on its energy industry, which prevent Moscow from chartering or insuring oil tankers unless it complies with certain restrictions.
The shadow fleet bypasses these restrictions by making use of complex ownership structures, flags of convenience and other tactics designed to conceal the origin of its cargo. Macron emphasized that France will not allow the “shadow fleet” to circumvent sanctions and finance Russia’s war effort.
“This latest action against the ‘shadow fleet’, carried out just a few days after a similar operation by the United Kingdom, illustrates the determination of Europeans,” Macron said on Thursday. “We will not allow the ‘shadow fleet’ to circumvent sanctions and finance Russia’s war effort.”
EU Proposes New Sanctions on Russian Oil, ‘Shadow Fleet’, Fisheries and Soldiers
The European Union has proposed new sanctions on Russian oil, its shadow fleet, fisheries, and soldiers in response to Moscow’s continued aggression in Ukraine. The proposal comes as the bloc seeks to strengthen its collective defense and deter further aggression from Russia.
The EU’s proposed sanctions aim to target key sectors of Russia’s economy, including energy, finance, and industry, while also imposing restrictions on Russian individuals and entities involved in the war effort. The move is seen as a significant escalation of the EU’s response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine and signals a willingness to take more decisive action against Moscow.
The proposal will be discussed by EU foreign ministers at their next meeting, with a view to implementing the sanctions in the coming weeks. The move is likely to be welcomed by Ukraine and other countries that have been affected by Russia’s aggression, but may also face opposition from some EU member states that are more cautious about imposing sanctions on Russia.
France and UK Lead International Effort Against Russian Shadow Fleet
The interception of the Russian shadow fleet oil tanker Deliver off the coast of Sicily is just the latest in a series of international efforts to disrupt Moscow’s ability to evade Western sanctions. The UK’s boarding of the Smyrtos earlier this month was seen as a significant blow to Russia’s attempts to circumvent sanctions, and France’s action is likely to further complicate Moscow’s plans.
The international effort against the Russian shadow fleet is being led by France and the UK, with other countries such as Ukraine and the United States also playing key roles. The move is seen as a significant escalation of the international response to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and signals a willingness to take more decisive action against Moscow.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how effective these efforts will be in disrupting Russia’s ability to evade sanctions. However, one thing is clear: the international community is determined to hold Russia accountable for its actions and to prevent further aggression in Ukraine.
Original Article: Macron says France intercepted a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker off coast of Sicily | Euronews — Euronews