The case was referred to the Marseille prosecutor, who is in charge of matters related to maritime law, who ordered the tanker to be diverted for a more in-depth investigation. The authorities will determine whether the vessel violated international sanctions or current maritime regulations.
From Moscow, the reaction was swift. The state agency TASS reported that Russia stated that it hadn't been notified in advance by France about the interception. In addition, the Russian consulate in Marseille indicated that it is trying to determine whether there are Russian citizens among the crew members, according to the Russian embassy in France.
The European Union has so far approved 19 packages of sanctions against Russia. Nevertheless, Moscow has managed to adapt to many of these measures and continues to export millions of barrels of oil, mainly to countries such as India and China, generally at reduced prices.
A large part of this trade is carried out through the shadow fleet, made up of vessels with opaque ownership structures and practices that make their oversight difficult.
The president of Ukraine, Volodímir Zelenski, welcomed the interception and stated that it demonstrates the determination needed to curb Russia's energy revenues. He also suggested that the oil transported by these vessels should be confiscated and sold. The incident is reminiscent of another one that occurred in October, when France detained a sanctioned tanker off its western coast, although in that case it was released days later.
