GRINCH Oil Tanker Grounded in France Amid Suspicions of Russian Shadow Fleet Involvement
In the French port of Marseille-Fos, the oil tanker GRINCH ran aground, sparking concerns about its potential links to Russia’s shadow fleet. The vessel had previously been intercepted by the French Navy over suspicions of flying a false flag and participating in schemes to circumvent sanctions imposed on Russian oil exports.
According to authorities, the ship had departed from the Russian port of Murmansk in early January, sailing under the flag of the Comoros. The Marseille prosecutor’s office said the tanker’s captain, an Indian national, was temporarily detained but later released and allowed to return to the ship.
The GRINCH is listed under EU, UK, and US sanctions and has been involved in transporting Russian oil, including shipments to China and India. Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate previously explained how Russia’s shadow fleet operates and how many tankers it includes.
Investigations Underway into Circumstances of Ship’s Use
Investigations are ongoing into the circumstances of the ship’s use and its possible links to Russia’s shadow fleet. The French Navy intercepted the GRINCH on January 22, 2026, in the western Mediterranean. The ship’s captain, an Indian national, was arrested.
The vessel is suspected of being part of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet – a fleet of vessels used to bypass Western sanctions on Russian oil exports. Since the price cap on Russian oil was introduced in December 2022, Moscow has reportedly spent over $10 billion acquiring shadow-fleet tankers.
Shadow Fleet Operations and Financial Losses
Regarding Russia’s financial losses, since the price cap on Russian oil was introduced in December 2022, Moscow has reportedly spent over $10 billion acquiring shadow-fleet tankers. The Boracay represents one vessel in a larger network of ships used to circumvent international sanctions against Russia.
The GRINCH tanker is part of this fleet, and its grounding in France raises concerns about the extent of Russian involvement in global oil trade. As investigations continue, authorities will likely scrutinize the ship’s activities and any potential connections to Russia’s shadow fleet operations.
Original Article: Russia’s masked ‘shadow fleet’ tanker from Murmansk grounded in France — Rbc