France’s Navy boards ‘Russia-linked’ oil tanker in Atlantic ‘with support of UK’ | World | News
A Navy member boarding an oil tanker (Image: EMMANUEL MACRON/X)
The French navy has intercepted and boarded a suspected Russian shadow fleet tanker in the Atlantic Ocean. President Emmanuel Macron said the vessel, named Tagor, “originated” from Russia and was under international sanctions.
The ship was sanctioned by the UK in February and is suspected of helping to fuel Russia‘s war in Ukraine. In a statement on X, Mr Macron said the Tagor was interdicted in international waters with the help of allies, including Britain. He said: “The French Navy intercepted a new tanker under international sanctions yesterday morning, originating from Russia: the Tagor. Our determination is steadfast and unwavering.
La Marine nationale a arraisonné hier matin un nouveau pétrolier sous sanctions internationales en provenance de Russie : le Tagor. Notre détermination est constante et totale.
Cette intervention a été effectuée en Atlantique, en haute mer,… pic.twitter.com/zxEslYjbUE
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 1, 2026
“This operation was carried out in the Atlantic, in international waters, with the support of several partners including the United Kingdom, in strict compliance with the law of the sea.
“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 for more than 4 years.
“These vessels, which fail to adhere to the most basic rules of maritime navigation, also pose a threat to the environment and to everyone’s safety.”
A video shared by Mr Macron showed troops fast roping down from a helicopter onto the vessel.
In a separate statement, the Maritime Prefecture of the Atlantic said the French navy had intervened on an oil tanker more than 400 nautical miles west of the tip of Britanny, north-west France.
The vessel — which it did not name — had been sailing from the port city of Murmansk in Russia, the French authority said.
It said: “This operation was aimed at checking the nationality of a vessel suspected of flying a false flag.
“After the inspection team boarded the vessel, an examination of the documents confirmed suspicions regarding the irregularity of the flag flown. In accordance with international law and at the request of the public prosecutor, the vessel was diverted.”
France and Britain have both vowed to stop vessels linked to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet.
Sir Keir Starmer earlier this year gave UK forces the green light to intercept the sanctioned vessels in British waters, but so far, no interceptions have occured.
The shadow fleet is accused of circumventing international sanctions by ferrying Russian oil and gas, helping to fund Moscow’s war on Ukraine.
The ships, of which there are believed to be some 700, are typically ageing oil tankers with murky ownership and dubious flagging.
Britain’s Ministry of Defence was contacted for comment.
