France Intercepts Russian-Linked Oil Tanker Over Sanctions Evasion

France has intercepted and diverted a Russian-linked oil tanker, the Tagor, in the Atlantic Ocean over suspected sanctions evasion and false registration. The vessel is part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” which Western countries say is used to bypass sanctions linked to the war in Ukraine

France announced on Monday that its navy had intercepted and diverted a Russian-linked oil tanker in the Atlantic Ocean as part of ongoing efforts to enforce international sanctions and prevent evasion. The vessel, identified as the Tagor, was boarded on Sunday in international waters, more than 400 nautical miles west of Brittany.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the operation, carried out with the support of international partners including the United Kingdom, was conducted “in strict compliance with the law of the sea.” He added that it is “unacceptable for ships to circumvent international sanctions, violate the law of the sea, and finance the war that Russia has been waging against Ukraine for more than four years.”
The French Maritime Prefecture of the Atlantic explained that the inspection team checked the vessel’s nationality after suspicions that it was flying a false flag. Examination of the ship’s documents confirmed irregularities in its registration, prompting authorities to divert the ship in accordance with international law and at the request of the public prosecutor.
The Tagor, sailing from Murmansk under the flag of Madagascar, is part of what Western governments have termed Russia’s “shadow fleet,” a network of ships accused of evading sanctions through flag-hopping or false registrations. Hundreds of vessels linked to this fleet are under European Union sanctions, though many continue to operate, reflecting the challenges of policing global maritime trade routes.
France has boarded several suspected shadow fleet vessels in recent months, with some allowed to continue after paying fines. Both France and the United Kingdom have committed to stopping sanctions-evading Russian ships passing through their waters. In March, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer authorized the UK military to board vessels suspected of being part of the shadow fleet, reinforcing transatlantic efforts to enforce sanctions as the war in Ukraine continues.