The French navy intercepted a Russian oil tanker in the western Mediterranean Sea on Thursday, suspected of being part of the so-called "shadow fleet," used by Russia to export oil despite the international sanctions imposed because of the war in Ukraine.
The operation was carried out on the high seas, between the southern coast of Spain and the north of Morocco, with the support of several allied countries, including the United Kingdom.
French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the interception in a message posted on the social network X, in which he stated that the operation was conducted in full compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
According to Macron, the vessel was subject to international sanctions and there were indications that it was operating under a false flag. The head of state added that the activities of the shadow fleet help finance Russia's "war of aggression" against Ukraine.
Macron confirmó que la intercepción se realizó en conjunto con varios países europeos y que el buque poseía sanciones internacionales
The intercepted tanker, identified as GRINCH, had departed from the port of Murmansk in northern Russia and was sailing under the flag of Comoros, according to data from the company LSEG.
This type of flag is common among the vessels that make up the shadow fleet, a group of ships that operate outside the traditional circuits of the Western maritime industry in order to avoid controls and restrictions.
The operation had the backing of other European navies. The British Defense Minister, John Healey, stated that the United Kingdom provided tracking and surveillance support, including the participation of the ship HMS Dagger, which monitored the tanker as it passed through the Strait of Gibraltar. The French authorities indicated that the action was coordinated with several allies.
El ministro de Defensa de Reino Unido confirmó que su país proveyó apoyo de seguimiento y vigilncia
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.
Zelenski sugirió que el petróleo incautado debería ser vendido
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.
