French navy intercepts Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tanker in the Mediterranean

Macron says the operation has been carried out with the help of British forces

The French navy has intercepted one of Russia’s sanctioned “shadow fleet” oil tankers in the Mediterranean with help from Britain.

Emmanuel Macron revealed that French forces had boarded a vessel this morning with allied support. The ship was subject to international sanctions and suspected of operating under a false flag, he said.

“We are determined to uphold international law and to ensure the effective enforcement of sanctions,” the French president wrote on social media. “The activities of the ‘shadow fleet’ contribute to financing the war of aggression against Ukraine.”

The Grinch cargo tanker was stopped in the Alboran Sea, east of Gibraltar, with help from the United Kingdom, local authorities said in a statement.

Defence Secretary John Healey said the UK had provided support tracking the tanker, which was monitored through the Straits of Gibraltar by the patrol vessel HMS Dagger.

Mr Healey said: “Alongside our allies, we are stepping up our response to shadow vessels – to choke off the funds that fuel (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.”

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the seizure and urged sanctions against the wider apparatus of the fleet.

“This is exactly the kind of resolve needed to ensure that Russian oil no longer finances Russia’s war,” he said. “Russian tankers operating near European shores must be stopped.

“Sanctions against the entire infrastructure of the shadow fleet must be tough. Vessels must be apprehended. And wouldn’t it be fair to confiscate and sell the oil carried by these tankers?”

Ukraine and its Western allies accuse Russia of using a so-called “shadow fleet” of ageing vessels to export huge amounts of crude oil despite sanctions.

The seized ship is suspected of operating under a false flag (Emmanuel Macron/X)

French authorities said they stopped the Grinch to verify its identity and confirmed their suspicions after reading through documents on board.

The ship was diverted and escorted by the French Navy into an anchorage this afternoon for further investigations.

A report was filed with the public prosecutor in Marseille, who has jurisdiction under the maritime court, the maritime prefecture in Toulon said.

British forces supported a US-led mission to intercept a sanctioned Russian-flagged tanker, the Marinera, earlier this month.

Experts say there could be more than 400 such ships flying under false flags, which Ukraine’s allies are trying to tackle.

British foreign secretary Yvette Cooper said earlier this month that the UK was ready to work with European partners to intercept ships, promising more action to “tighten the chokehold” on the fleet.

“We’re going to look at a wide range of ways in which to increase that pressure on the Russian shadow fleet,” she told the BBC, adding: “We’re ready for much stronger enforcement, a much more assertive and robust approach, so that we don't have that navigation becoming sabotage instead.”

To date, no UK military personnel have boarded any such vessels.

The government has reportedly now found a legal basis to allow British forces to board and detain shadow fleet vessels under the 2018 Sanctions and Money Laundering Act.

It was not immediately clear what role the UK had in intercepting the tanker today. The Independent approached the Ministry of Defence for comment.