Shafaq News– Paris
The French Navy intercepted a Russian oil tanker inthe western Mediterranean over suspicion of operating as part of Moscow’s “shadowfleet,” a network accused of evading international sanctions, France’sauthorities announced on Thursday.
On X, French President Emmanuel Macron said theoperation was conducted with allied support and in line with internationalmaritime law, adding that the tanker, identified as the GRINCH, departed from northernRussia’s Murmansk and is subject to international sanctions. “The activities ofthe shadow fleet contribute to financing [Russia’s] war of aggression againstUkraine.”
We will not tolerate any violation.This morning, the French Navy boarded an oil tanker coming from Russia, subject to international sanctions and suspected of flying a false flag. The operation was conducted on the high seas in the Mediterranean,… pic.twitter.com/zhXVdzPx1r
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) January 22, 2026French maritime police, meanwhile, confirmed theinterception occurred in international waters between southern Spain andnorthern Morocco, with assistance from allied naval forces, including theUnited Kingdom. The case was referred to the Marseille prosecutor, who orderedthe tanker diverted for investigation.
?Mediterranean | High sea intervention led by the French Navy to control the pavilion of an oil tanker ⚓ Rerouting at the demand of the public prosecutor - under escort by the @MarineNationale - to proceed to further inspection ?️ Operation conducted in cooperation with our… t.co/PG7ZjgoqPk pic.twitter.com/w9u2QYQBEw
— The ?? Joint Staff - Military operations (@FrenchForces) January 22, 2026Shipping data from LSEG showed the tanker sailingunder a Comoros flag.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed themove on X, calling it “exactly the kind of resolve needed.” He urged theseizure and sale of oil carried by shadow-fleet vessels.
Thank you, France! Thank you, @EmmanuelMacron! This is exactly the kind of resolve needed to ensure that Russian oil no longer finances Russia’s war. Russian tankers operating near European shores must be stopped. Sanctions against the entire infrastructure of the shadow fleet… t.co/6t0DbJ9xS1
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 22, 2026Russia, however, countered that France failed tonotify Moscow of the interception, according to TASS. The Russian consulate inMarseille, it noted, is seeking clarification on whether Russian nationals areamong the crew.
The interception comes as the European Union (EU) continuesto tighten sanctions on Russia, having adopted 19 packages to date. Despiterestrictions, Moscow reportedly still exports large volumes of oil, often atdiscounted prices, to markets such as India and China, frequently using shipsoperating outside Western maritime systems.
France carried out a similar action in October 2025,briefly detaining the sanctioned tanker Boracay off its Atlantic coast beforereleasing it days later.
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