French Navy Intercepts Sanctioned Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker
The French Navy, with support from allied countries, intercepted a Russian shadow fleet tanker in the Atlantic Ocean on May 31, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on June 1.
The vessel, Tagor, has been transporting Russian crude oil and petroleum products and is sanctioned by the EU, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine, according to Ukraine’s military intelligence agency’s database of shadow fleet vessels. The interception marks one of the most significant actions taken by a Western navy against Russia’s sanctions-evasion network in international waters.
“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,” Macron said. The French president noted that the tanker had departed from Russia.
Moscow Condemns France’s Action as Unlawful
Moscow has relied on a so-called shadow fleet since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 to sustain oil exports despite Western sanctions. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov condemned France’s move as unlawful. “We consider such actions to be illegal; they amount to international piracy,” he said. “We strongly disagree that they are being carried out in full compliance with international law.”
French Efforts to Disrupt Sanctions Evasion
Paris has stepped up efforts to curb Russia’s shadow fleet, intercepting vessels in its territorial waters in September 2025, January 2026, and March as part of a campaign to disrupt sanctions evasion. Ukraine has welcomed these measures and repeatedly urged European allies to update legislation allowing the seizure of shadow fleet vessels and repurposing of their cargo for European security.
The network consists of aging tankers operating through shell companies, opaque ownership structures, and changing flags to conceal links to Russia and bypass restrictions on energy exports. The French Navy’s action is seen as a significant blow to Moscow’s efforts to evade sanctions and sustain its war effort in Ukraine.
Original Article: French Navy intercepts sanctioned Russian shadow fleet tanker as Moscow calls it ‘piracy’ — Kyivindependent