France Intercepts Russian 'Shadow Fleet' Oil Tanker in Mediterranean

Fri Jan 23 2026 06:58:14 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

French authorities have seized the oil tanker Grinch, suspected of violating international sanctions, in a coordinated military operation as part of efforts to combat Russia's clandestine oil trade.

In a significant operation, France has taken control of the oil tanker Grinch, suspected of evading international sanctions as part of Russia's shadow fleet. The French navy, supported by allies, boarded the vessel, which was traveling under a false flag from Murmansk. French President Macron emphasized the need to uphold international law while U.K. officials noted enhanced responses to such efforts. This seizure is seen as part of broader actions against Russian energy exports amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

France says it has seized an oil tanker in the Mediterranean suspected of being part of Russia's sanction-busting shadow fleet.

French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the tanker, named the Grinch, was subject to international sanctions and suspected of flying a false flag.

The French navy, supported by allies including the UK, boarded the vessel on Thursday morning between Spain and Morocco. According to French maritime authorities, the inspection of the vessel confirmed doubts regarding the flag's legitimacy.

Russia's embassy in Paris announced it had not been informed about the seizure.

Moscow's clandestine network of tankers, known as the shadow fleet, operates to circumvent Western sanctions on Russian oil exports by utilizing older vessels with obscure ownership.

The Grinch was reported to be traveling from the Arctic port of Murmansk when it was intercepted, purportedly flying a Comoros flag.

Macron declared on social media: We are determined to uphold international law and to ensure effective enforcement of sanctions. The activities of the shadow fleet contribute to financing the war of aggression against Ukraine, adding that the vessel had been diverted.

UK Defence Secretary John Healy stated that the UK navy had provided tracking and monitoring assistance, with HMS Dagger overseeing the vessel's movements through the Straits of Gibraltar. Alongside our allies, we are increasing our response to shadow vessels to cut off the funds fueling Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine, Healy emphasized.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the action, asserting it demonstrated necessary resolve to prevent Russian oil from funding the war. He proposed the confiscation and sale of oil carried by captured tankers.

Earlier, Zelensky urged Europe at Davos to heighten efforts for self-defense, claiming, Europe loves to discuss the future but avoids taking action.

Many Western nations imposed energy sanctions on Russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

This seizure is not the first of its kind; just recently, British forces supported a U.S. operation to seize a Russian-flagged tanker in the Atlantic. Last October, France seized another sanctioned tanker, the Boracay.

Shadow fleets are increasingly common, with nations like Venezuela and Iran using them to evade sanctions. Financial intelligence firm S&P Global estimates that one in five oil tankers worldwide is involved in smuggling operations tied to sanctioned countries.