French Navy Intercepts Russian-Linked Oil Tanker in Atlantic
The French navy intercepted a suspected Russian oil tanker, Tagor, in the Atlantic Ocean over the weekend, in the latest operation aimed at combating Moscow’s sanctions-busting “shadow fleet.” The vessel was falsely flying a Cameroonian flag and was heading toward Limbe, a seaside city in western Cameroon.
According to French authorities, the tanker was on its way from Murmansk in northwestern Russia when it was seized. The ship had 23 crew members and was being escorted by the French navy to an anchorage point for further checks.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine thanked France for the interception, urging Europe to update its laws so that such vessels can be seized, not just stopped. “It is important that Europe takes a strong step and modernizes its legislation so that such tankers can not only be stopped, but also seized,” Zelensky said in his evening address.
Ukraine Calls for Tougher Enforcement Against Russian Energy Exports
Ukraine has repeatedly called for tougher enforcement against Russian energy exports, saying oil revenues remain one of the Kremlin’s main sources of funding for its war. The country says 15 Russian refineries have been hit this year, deepening pressure on Russia’s fuel sector.
As of May, nearly 40 percent of Russia’s primary oil refining capacity is offline, according to President Zelensky. He linked the refinery strikes and action against the shadow fleet to the same goal: reducing Moscow’s ability to finance its war.
France Has Intercepted Several Shadow Fleet Vessels
The Tagor was under EU and US sanctions, according to Guillaume Le Rasle, spokesman for the Atlantic maritime prefecture. “It is a vessel that was known and tracked,” he told AFP. The objective of the diversion is to verify whether the ship is indeed flying a false flag.
France has intercepted several shadow fleet vessels in recent months, including a tanker seized off the coast of France last month. The country’s President Emmanuel Macron said it is unacceptable for ships to circumvent international sanctions, violate the law of the sea, and fund the war that Russia has been waging against Ukraine for more than four years.
Kyiv Urges Europe to Go Further
The president said the interception showed that stronger action against Russia’s shadow fleet is possible, but argued that Europe now needs legislation allowing authorities to confiscate such vessels and their cargoes. “These ships, which fail to comply with the most basic rules of maritime navigation, also pose a threat to the environment and to everyone’s safety,” Macron said.
Ukraine has repeatedly called for tougher enforcement against Russian energy exports, saying oil revenues remain one of the Kremlin’s main sources of funding for its war.
Original Article: Zelensky Thanks France After Navy Intercepts Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker — Kyivpost