French Forces Intercept Russian Shadow Fleet Oil Tanker Off Sicily Coast
French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that French forces had intercepted a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker earlier in the week, stating that the vessel 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 intercepted vessel, identified as the Cameroonian-flagged “Deliver“, has been involved in the export of Russian oil since 2024, operating mainly out of ports in the Baltic and Black Sea. According to Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence, this is not an isolated incident, as the “Deliver” is part of Russia’s shadow fleet, which uses complex ownership structures, flags of convenience, and other tactics designed to conceal the origin of its cargo.
Russian Shadow Fleet Tactics Under Scrutiny
Russia’s shadow fleet has been instrumental in evading Western sanctions on its energy industry. These sanctions 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.
The recent interception of the “Deliver” is not an isolated incident. Earlier this month, the UK announced that it had intercepted and boarded a Russian shadow fleet tanker, the “Smyrtos“, in the English Channel. 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.
European Unity Against Russian Shadow Fleet
Macron’s statement emphasized the determination of Europeans to combat the Russian shadow fleet. “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.”
Original Article: Macron says France intercepted a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker off coast of Sicily — Aol