French Navy Seizes Russian Oil Tanker Suspected of Evading War Sanctions

French naval forces intercepted and boarded an oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea suspected of being part of Russia's shadow fleet used to circumvent Ukraine war sanctions. The vessel, flying a Mozambican flag but coming from a Russian port, was found to have questionable documentation and has been referred to prosecutors.

French naval forces seized control of an oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea on Friday that officials believe is part of Russia’s covert shipping network designed to bypass international sanctions imposed over the Ukraine conflict.

Maritime officials identified the vessel as the Deyna, which they suspect was operating with fraudulent flag documentation. The seizure occurred in the western Mediterranean with assistance from British forces who had been tracking the ship’s movements.

“This operation aimed to verify the nationality of the vessel,” maritime authorities explained in an official statement. The tanker was displaying Mozambique’s flag while traveling from the Russian Arctic port of Murmansk. Paperwork discovered during the boarding “confirmed doubts about the validity of the flag,” officials reported.

French naval personnel redirected the vessel to a secure anchorage location for additional inspection, and the matter has been forwarded to prosecutors in Marseille for potential legal action.

President Emmanuel Macron identified the Deyna as part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” in a social media statement.

“These vessels, which circumvent international sanctions and violate the law of the sea, are war profiteers. They seek to generate profits and finance Russia’s war effort,” Macron declared. “We won’t let this happen.”

Intelligence estimates suggest Russia operates hundreds of ships to dodge sanctions related to its military campaign in Ukraine. France and allied nations have pledged to intensify enforcement efforts against these operations.

This marks the third such incident involving French forces in recent months. In January, France’s navy stopped another Russian oil tanker in the Mediterranean, which was eventually released after paying millions in penalties. Last September, French naval personnel boarded a different tanker off the Atlantic coast that Macron also connected to the shadow fleet operation. Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned that earlier action as maritime piracy.