France Seizes ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tanker, Stepping Up Pressure on Russia
The French navy seized another tanker suspected of being linked to Russia‘s “shadow fleet” on Thursday, underscoring the escalation this year in European efforts to enforce sanctions and squeeze one of Moscow’s main revenue streams.
Nine suspected shadow fleet tankers have now been seized across Europe since the start of 2026, including four by France. Britain seized an oil tanker in the English Channel on June 14. Another three suspected shadow fleet tankers have been inspected as part of a European naval mission in the Mediterranean, a Western military source said.
French Seizure Marks Escalation in Shadow Fleet Crackdown
The seizure of the Deliver, a tanker that left Primorsk, one of Russia‘s main oil export terminals, and was intercepted near Sicily as it headed towards the Suez Canal en route to Singapore, is part of a broader effort by European countries to crack down on Moscow’s shadow fleet. The military source said the Deliver was operating under a Cameroonian flag, despite having been formally struck off Cameroon’s registry weeks earlier, meaning it was navigating without nationality and breaching international maritime law.
This enabled France to board and detain it, the source said. Cameroonian authorities have warned about the increasing misuse of the African country’s flag by sanctioned vessels and ships linked to Russia‘s shadow fleet, which often uses aging tankers through opaque ownership structures to evade oversight.
European Union Sanctions Negotiations Underway
European Union countries are negotiating a 21st package of sanctions against Russia. But Moscow has adapted to most measures and continues to sell millions of barrels of oil to countries such as India and China, usually at discounted prices. Much is carried by what is known as a shadow fleet operating outside the Western maritime industry.
French President Macron’s Statement
French President Emmanuel Macron said on social media after announcing the seizure of the Deliver: “We will not let the shadow fleet circumvent sanctions and finance the Russian war effort.” He added: “Europe is determined.”
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
Original Article: France Seizes ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tanker, Stepping Up Pressure on Russia — Gcaptain