French Navy boards Russian oil tanker, obstructs Atlantic 'shadow-fleet'

The French Navy intercepted and boarded the oil tanker Tagor in the Atlantic Ocean, an operation President Emmanuel Macron stated was conducted on the high seas with international support and in full compliance with maritime law. The vessel was sailing from Russia and was subject to international sanctions.

Macron declared on X, formerly Twitter, that it is "unacceptable for ships to circumvent international sanctions, violate the law of the sea, and finance the war that Russia has been waging against Ukraine for more than four years." The Maritime Prefecture of the Atlantic reported that the intervention occurred over 400 nautical miles west of Brittany. An inspection of the vessel's documents confirmed suspicions of an irregular flag, leading to its diversion in accordance with international law.

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This operation took place in the Atlantic Ocean, on the high seas, with the support of several partners, including the United Kingdom, in strict compliance with the law of the sea.

This action aligns with a broader commitment by France and the United Kingdom to disrupt the operations of Russia's sanctioned "shadow fleet." British Prime Minister Keir Starmer previously authorized the UK military to board ships associated with this fleet. Despite these efforts, shipping data indicates that numerous sanctioned vessels linked to Russia continue to transit through UK waters.

The Tagor was reportedly sailing from Murmansk, Russia. The operation aimed to verify the vessel's nationality and ensure adherence to international sanctions regimes. The French Navy's boarding and subsequent diversion of the tanker underscore a determined effort by European nations to enforce sanctions against Russia and prevent the circumvention of international law through opaque shipping practices.

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It is unacceptable for ships to circumvent international sanctions, violate the law of the sea, and finance the war that Russia has been waging against Ukraine for more than four years.