France and UK Intercept Sanctioned Russian Oil Tanker in Atlantic

French naval forces, supported by the United Kingdom, intercepted the Russian oil tanker Tagor in the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced. The operation took place approximately 400 nautical miles west of Brittany, in international waters. Authorities suspect the vessel was part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” a network of ships used to evade international sanctions imposed following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The Tagor, which had sailed from Murmansk in northwestern Russia, was reportedly flying a false Cameroonian flag when intercepted. French maritime authorities noted the tanker was under European Union and United States sanctions and was heading towards Limbe, a coastal city in western Cameroon. Spokesman Guillaume Le Rasle of the Atlantic maritime prefecture stated the vessel was “almost empty” at the time of boarding and had frequently changed flags, including Madagascan and Cameroonian.

President Macron condemned the actions of such vessels, writing on X, “It is unacceptable for ships to circumvent international sanctions, violate the law of the sea, and fund the war that Russia has been waging against Ukraine.” He added that these ships “pose a threat to the environment and to everyone’s safety.”

The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that a British helicopter, operating from HMS Somerset, provided tracking and monitoring support during the French operation. A spokesperson said, “Alongside our allies, we are stepping up our response to shadow vessels – to choke off the funds that fuel Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.”

This interception marks the fourth time since September that French authorities have boarded a suspected shadow fleet vessel. Previous actions included boarding the Boracay, Grinch, and Deyna tankers, with some ships allowed to continue operating after owners paid fines. France has since announced plans to double penalties for ships that fail to fly a flag or refuse to comply with regulations.

The Kremlin condemned the seizure, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov describing it as “bordering on international piracy” and stating that Russia is taking measures to ensure the safety of its cargo. Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the detention of Russia-linked vessels as “piracy”.

The French operation was conducted “in strict compliance with the law of the sea,” Macron emphasized, highlighting cooperation with allies including the UK. The French president shared video footage showing armed naval officers boarding the tanker via helicopter, though the BBC has not independently verified the footage.

Since mid-March, the UK has authorized military boarding of sanctioned Russian ships, with nearly 200 shadow fleet vessels entering UK waters by early May. The UK Ministry of Defence has stated it is actively disrupting and deterring these vessels, though specific details have not been disclosed.