French naval forces intercepted and boarded a sanctioned tanker linked to Russia’s shadow fleet in the Atlantic Ocean, with support from the UK and other allies.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the operation targeted the tanker Tagor, which was detained more than 400 nautical miles west of Brittany after authorities suspected the vessel was sailing under a false or irregular flag.
According to France’s Maritime Prefecture of the Atlantic, the operation was launched to verify the vessel’s nationality and documentation. Following an onboard inspection, authorities confirmed concerns regarding the ship’s status and diverted it at the request of prosecutors.
Macron said the boarding was conducted in compliance with international maritime law.
The Tagor has been identified in media reports as a tanker sanctioned by the EU, UK and Ukraine for transporting Russian crude oil and petroleum products.
The interception marks the latest European move against Russia’s so-called shadow fleet – vessels operating through opaque ownership structures and flag arrangements to bypass sanctions on Russian oil exports.
French authorities have boarded several suspected shadow fleet tankers since late 2025, while the UK has expanded military powers allowing inspections of vessels suspected of sanctions evasion.
The Kremlin condemned the detention, calling it “illegal” and “bordering on international piracy,” while stating that Russia was taking steps to protect its cargo.
