French Navy Seizes Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker in Mediterranean Operation
French Navy boards and seizes Russia-linked oil tanker 'Grinch' in Mediterranean over sanctions violation.
France’s navy on Thursday boarded and seized an oil tanker suspected of belonging to Russia’s sanction-busting “shadow fleet” during a coordinated operation in the Mediterranean Sea. President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the action, stating that the vessel was coming from Russia, was subject to international sanctions, and was suspected of sailing under a false flag.
According to local maritime authorities, the tanker — identified as Grinch — was intercepted between Spain and Morocco after beginning its journey from the Russian Arctic port of Murmansk. Ship-tracking data indicated the vessel was flying a Comoros flag, raising suspicions about the legality of its registration and operations.
Macron said the operation was carried out with the support of several allied nations. The Mediterranean Maritime Prefecture confirmed that an inspection of the ship’s documents validated concerns regarding the legitimacy of its flag, prompting authorities to escort the tanker to an anchorage point for further verification.
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The Grinch is reportedly under UK sanctions, while another vessel using the same registration number — Carl — is sanctioned by both the United States and the European Union. Images released by the French military showed masked naval commandos boarding the ship using a patrol vessel and two helicopters, underscoring the seriousness of the operation.
Macron warned that France would not tolerate violations of international sanctions, stating that Russia’s “shadow fleet” plays a direct role in financing Moscow’s war against Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the move, calling for tougher sanctions to shut down the entire infrastructure enabling illicit Russian oil exports.
The United Kingdom confirmed it provided intelligence and monitoring support, including tracking the vessel through the Strait of Gibraltar. This marks the second such boarding by France in recent months, following the detention of the Russian-linked vessel Boracay in September — an action previously condemned by Russian President Vladimir Putin as “piracy.”
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