French authorities have intercepted a Russian-linked oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea, targeting what is believed to be a covert network used to bypass international sanctions. The vessel, named the Grinch, was reportedly flying a flag of convenience, raising concerns over its legality.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the ship had been "subject to international sanctions and suspected of flying a false flag."
The operation took place on Thursday morning between Spain and Morocco, with the French navy boarding the tanker with support from allied forces, including the United Kingdom. Officials said inspections confirmed doubts about the authenticity of the flag.
Russia’s embassy in Paris said it had not been notified of the seizure.
Macron stressed the importance of enforcing international law, saying: "We are determined to uphold international law and to ensure the effective enforcement of sanctions. The activities of the "shadow fleet" contribute to financing the war of aggression against Ukraine." He added that the vessel had been "diverted" from its intended route.
French authorities reported that the Grinch had departed from Murmansk, a port in northern Russia, and was registered under a Comoros flag, according to tracking websites.
The UK provided intelligence support for the operation. Defence Secretary John Healy said: "Alongside our allies, we are stepping up our response to shadow vessels to choke off the funds that fuel Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine." He also noted that London has imposed sanctions on 544 vessels suspected of operating within Russia’s shadow fleet.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the action, describing it as "exactly the kind of resolve needed to ensure that Russian oil no longer finances Russia's war." He added: "Vessels must be apprehended. And wouldn't it be fair to confiscate and sell the oil carried by these tankers?"
At the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this month, Zelensky urged Europe to strengthen its security measures, saying: "Europe loves to discuss the future but avoids taking action."
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, many Western nations imposed sanctions on Russian energy exports. Shadow fleets—networks of older tankers with unclear ownership—are used to bypass these sanctions. Countries including Russia, Iran, and Venezuela have all been accused of operating such fleets.
Earlier this month, British forces assisted a U.S.-led operation to seize a Russian-flagged tanker in the Atlantic accused of violating sanctions by transporting oil for Russia and Venezuela. Moscow condemned the seizure, saying no country had the right to use force against vessels legally registered elsewhere.
France had previously seized another tanker, Boracay, off its west coast in October but released it after several days. Analysts at S&P Global estimate that around 20% of global oil tankers are involved in transporting oil from sanctioned countries.
