The French Navy intercepted an oil tanker named the Tagor on Sunday, which has been linked to violating international sanctions. French President Emmanuel Macron announced this operation on the social media platform X, highlighting the ship’s departure from Russia.
This interception occurred in the Atlantic Ocean, with support from several partners, including the United Kingdom. Macron emphasized the importance of adhering to the law of the sea and preventing ships from circumventing sanctions. He stated, It is unacceptable for ships to circumvent international sanctions, violate the law of the sea, and finance the war that Russia has been waging against Ukraine for more than four years.
The Maritime Prefecture of the Atlantic released a statement confirming the operation’s location more than 400 nautical miles west of Brittany’s tip. The Tagor, which sailed from Murmansk, Russia, raised suspicion for flying a false flag. The inspection team boarded the vessel, confirmed the irregularities, and diverted it according to international law.
No immediate response came from Moscow regarding the incident. This is not the first time France has acted against tankers tied to Russia’s shadow fleet. In January, with UK’s intelligence, they intercepted another tanker called the Grinch in the Mediterranean Sea, which also allegedly flew a false flag.
Both France and the UK are committed to obstructing ships linked to Russia’s shadow fleet. These ships transport sanctioned Russian oil or goods on the black market, assisting Russian President Vladimir Putin in financing the war in Ukraine. Earlier this year, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer authorized UK military action against these illicit fleets passing through UK waters.
However, shipping data continues to show that numerous sanctioned ships affiliated with Russia are still navigating through UK waters.
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