France Intercepts Russian 'Shadow Fleet' Oil Tanker in Mediterranean Waters

Fri Jan 23 2026 06:58:39 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a significant move against Russia's circumvention of sanctions, France seizes the Grinch oil tanker, suspected of operating as part of a shadow fleet. The tanker was intercepted with the assistance of the UK navy.

French authorities have successfully seized an oil tanker named the Grinch, suspected of being part of Russia's 'shadow fleet' that aims to evade international sanctions. President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the importance of upholding international law and tightening sanctions against entities facilitating Russia's wartime endeavors. The interception occurred between Spain and Morocco, with significant contributions from UK naval forces.

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, aided by allies including the UK, boarded the vessel on Thursday morning between Spain and Morocco. French maritime authorities confirmed the flag’s irregularity after conducting a search of the ship.

Russia's embassy in Paris stated it had not been informed of the seizure.

Moscow's shadow fleet is a clandestine network of tankers reportedly employed to evade Western sanctions on Russian oil exports by transporting oil on outdated vessels whose ownership or insurance remains unclear.

The Grinch was en route from Murmansk, a northern Russian port, when it was intercepted and was reported to have been flying a Comoros flag, according to maritime tracking sites.

Macron declared on platform X: We are determined to uphold international law and to ensure the effective enforcement of sanctions. He accused the shadow fleet of financing ongoing aggression against Ukraine and confirmed the vessel had been diverted.

UK Defence Secretary John Healy added that the UK navy had provided tracking and monitoring support, with HMS Dagger watching the tanker’s movements through the Straits of Gibraltar.

He asserted that the UK, along with its allies, is intensifying its response to vessels operating under the shadow fleet, aiming to cut off financial resources that support Putin's unlawful invasion of Ukraine.

The UK has sanctioned 544 vessels associated with the Russian shadow fleet.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the enforcement action, advocating for more assertive steps to prevent Russian oil from funding military actions against Ukraine, suggesting apprehended vessels' cargo could be sold off.

Earlier in January, British forces collaborated on a US operation to seize another tanker supposedly violating sanctions by transporting oil for Venezuela.

Shadow fleets are becoming increasingly prevalent, with countries like Venezuela, Iran, and Russia accused of using them to operate outside the bounds of international law.