French Court Releases Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker After Fines Paid
France has released the Russian shadow fleet tanker “Deyna“, which it detained in March after its owner failed to confirm the vessel’s nationality. The news was reported by Maritima, a French media outlet.
The tanker, sailing under the Mozambican flag, had been transporting Russian oil that was sold at a price above the ceiling set by the G7 countries. It is subject to sanctions by the US, Ukraine, Switzerland, Britain, and Canada.
Russian Shadow Fleet: A Circumvention of Oil Sanctions
In early December 2022, the G7 members, as well as Australia and the EU, imposed price caps on Russian oil, setting a maximum price of $60 per barrel. In January 2026, the European Union announced a reduction in the price of Russian oil to $44.1 per barrel from February 1, 2026.
To circumvent these sanctions, Russia has begun to form a shadow fleet. This is a fleet of old tankers that turn off their beacons so that they cannot be seen by surveillance systems. They are operated mostly by the Russian state company “Suchkomflot”. With its help, the Russian Federation transports an estimated 1.7 million barrels of oil per day, which brings large profits to the Kremlin.
Detention and Release
The tanker “Deyna” was detained on March 20 on suspicion of helping Russia circumvent the oil embargo. French President Emmanuel Macron called it a war profiteer at the time. The owner of the vessel was fined for failing to confirm its nationality, leading to the court’s decision to release the tanker.
Immediately after the court’s decision, the tanker left its anchorage in Foss Bay to enter international waters.
Original Article: France releases Russian shadow fleet tanker — Babel