French naval forces, with support from the United Kingdom, have intercepted and boarded the crude oil tanker Deyna, suspected of being part of Russia’s shadow fleet used to bypass international sanctions.
French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the operation, stating that France remains committed to curbing Russia’s oil revenues and enforcing sanctions at sea.
The 2005-built tanker, flying the flag of Mozambique, was intercepted in the western Mediterranean on 20 March after departing from the Russian port of Murmansk. During the boarding, authorities verified documentation that confirmed suspicions about the vessel’s links to the shadow fleet. The case has been referred to prosecutors in Marseille, and the vessel has been escorted to an anchorage area for further investigation.
Macron emphasized that the escalation of the Middle East conflict would not divert France from supporting Ukraine. He also warned operators engaged in sanctions evasion, calling such vessels “profiteers of war” that help finance Russia’s military efforts.
The UK’s Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed that British forces supported the operation, highlighting joint efforts to disrupt and deter the shadow fleet network.
The move follows a similar case in January, when French authorities detained the tanker Grinch on suspicion of sanctions evasion and false flagging. The vessel was later released after its owner paid a multi-million-euro penalty, reflecting a growing enforcement model combining interdictions at sea with financial penalties.
Since then, European authorities have intensified inspections, tightened oversight of vessel documentation, and increased coordination targeting the broader shadow fleet network. The latest boarding signals a continued shift toward direct maritime enforcement of sanctions.
