France has detained a Russia-linked oil tanker in the Atlantic Ocean in an operation targeting vessels suspected of evading Western sanctions, officials said on Monday. The seizure has drawn sharp criticism from Moscow, which described the action as “international piracy,” while Paris defended it as part of efforts to enforce sanctions on Russia’s oil trade.

The tanker, identified as Tagor, was intercepted on Sunday morning in international waters with assistance from Britain and other partners. French prosecutors said the vessel was boarded after its Russian captain refused to comply with instructions from authorities monitoring the ship.

President Emmanuel Macron shared footage of the operation showing commandos descending onto the vessel by helicopter. He said such ships were being used to bypass sanctions and continue funding Russia’s war in Ukraine, calling the practice “unacceptable” and a violation of international law.

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French maritime authorities said the vessel had departed from Murmansk in northwestern Russia and was reportedly heading toward Limbe, a coastal city in Cameroon. Officials also said the ship was falsely flying a Cameroonian flag and raised suspicions of irregular registration practices commonly associated with so-called “shadow fleet” operations.

The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that a British helicopter supported the French-led interception by tracking and monitoring the tanker during the operation. Officials said efforts are being intensified to disrupt vessels believed to be transporting sanctioned Russian oil.

The Tagor, carrying 23 crew members, is now being escorted by the French Navy to an anchorage point for further inspection. French authorities also noted links between the vessel and petroleum shipping magnate Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, though they declined to provide further comment as investigations continue.

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