The French navy on the 22nd of January intercepted a Russian tanker in the Mediterranean Sea, believed to be part of a shadow fleet whose ships are transporting Russian oil that is subject to sanctions, Reuters reports.
French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on the X that the operation was carried out with the support of several allies and was carried out in full compliance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The tanker was intercepted in international waters in the Mediterranean, between the southern coast of Spain and the northern coast of Morocco. The operation was supported by navies from other countries, including Britain. British Defense Secretary John Healey said that Britain was providing support in tracking and surveillance of the operation, sending HMS Dagger to observe the tanker GRINCH, as it passed through the Strait of Gibraltar.
The European Union has imposed sanctions on Russia, but Moscow has found ways around them and continues to sell millions of barrels of oil to countries such as China and India, mostly at reduced prices. Most of the oil is transported by shadow fleet ships.
The intercepted tanker, which left Murmansk in northern Russia and is subject to Western sanctions,
was also reported by Macron to have been sailing under a false flag. According to LSEG, the ship was flying the flag of the Comoros. Macron added that the shadow fleet’s activities are helping to finance Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that this type of operation was exactly the solution needed and suggested that the oil carried by the shadow fleet tankers should be confiscated and sold.
The case has been referred to the Marseille prosecutor’s office, which deals with issues related to violations of shipping legislation.
Meanwhile, Moscow has said that France did not inform it of the interception of the ship.
In October, France detained another Russian tanker, the Boracay, off the country’s west coast, which was released a few days later.
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