Macron says vessel violated sanctions rules as Europe intensifies crackdown on Moscow-linked ships
France on Monday confirmed the detention of a suspected Russian oil tanker in the Atlantic Ocean as Western nations intensify efforts to clamp down on Moscow’s so-called “shadow fleet” accused of helping Russia evade international sanctions imposed over the war in Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron disclosed that the vessel, identified as the Tagor, was intercepted on Sunday morning in international waters during a coordinated operation involving France, Britain and other allied partners.
According to French authorities, the tanker had departed Murmansk in northwestern Russia and was heading toward the port city of Limbe in Cameroon before it was intercepted by French naval forces.
Officials alleged that the vessel was falsely operating under a Cameroonian flag, raising suspicions that it was attempting to conceal its ownership and destination in violation of international maritime regulations and sanctions enforcement measures.
Macron condemned what he described as deliberate attempts by Russia-linked vessels to undermine international sanctions and finance Moscow’s military operations in Ukraine.
“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 four years,” the French President stated.
“These ships, which fail to comply with the most basic rules of maritime navigation, also pose a threat to the environment and to everyone’s safety,” he added.
Macron also shared a video of the operation on social media, showing heavily armed commandos descending from a helicopter onto the tanker during the interception.
France’s Atlantic maritime prefecture said the operation took place more than 400 nautical miles, approximately 740 kilometres, west of Brittany.
Authorities explained that preliminary checks carried out by naval personnel raised concerns about the legitimacy of the vessel’s registration and flag documentation.
“The examination of the documents confirmed doubts about the irregularity of the
