June 1st, French President Emmanuel Macron posted on social media platform X, stating that the French Navy had intercepted a oil tanker leaving Russia, which was under international sanctions. This operation took place in the Atlantic Ocean, with the support of several partners including the United Kingdom. It was carried out in strict accordance with the Law of the Sea, he wrote.
He also stated, It is unacceptable for any vessel to evade international sanctions, violate the Law of the Sea, and provide funding for Russias four-year-long war against Ukraine. He revealed that the oil tanker was named Tagor.
According to TASS reports on the same day, Kremlin spokesman Peskov said that Russia considers Frances seizure of its oil tanker to be illegal, and described it as an act of international banditry.
The Russian Embassy in France stated that preliminary information indicates that the captain of the oil tanker Tagon who was detained by the French Navy in the Atlantic Ocean is a Russian citizen. Russian diplomats noted that Russia has requested information regarding the nationality of the crew members of the oil tanker. The embassy also said that France did not notify Russia in advance about its actions during this incident.
As early as March this year, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement regarding illegal actions taken by Western countries at sea. The statement mentioned that European countries like France intercepted and demanded that unwelcome ships be directed to designated ports. These countries alleged that these ships violated certain international sanctions, under the pretext of needing to comply with EU-related restrictions.
To prevent Russia from gaining international trade revenues, the EU has created the concept of a shadow fleet, using this as an opportunity to carry out banditry at sea. In addition, several ships that fully meet the conditions for free navigation have been inspected and detained. The Russian side believes that such actions by EU countries are unacceptable. Russia will use all available political, legal, and other means to ensure that the principle of freedom of navigation is respected. Those who attempt to turn the Baltic Sea and other waters into internal waters for NATO and the EU must understand that Russia will not tolerate such banditry and will take all necessary measures to counter it.
French Navy Close to Oil Tankers – French Navy, Reuters
According to the website of the ship monitoring service VesselFinder, the oil tanker Takar flies the flag of Madagascar. Its last port of call was in May this year, at the port of Murmansk in Russia.
According to Reuters, on the same day, the Maritime Prefecture of the Atlantic in France announced in a separate statement that the French Navy took action against an oil tanker that was heading towards Russias Murmansk. The oil tanker was located about 740 kilometers west of the westernmost point of Brittany Peninsula at that time.
Statement reads: This operation was conducted to determine the nationality of a ship suspected of flying a false flag. After boarding the ship, the inspection team verified the relevant documents and confirmed earlier suspicions that the ship was operating in violation of international laws. At the request of the prosecutor, the ship was ordered to change its course. The specific name of the ship is not mentioned in the statement.
On January 22nd this year, France also announced the seizure of an oil tanker suspected of being part of Russias shadow fleet in the Mediterranean. French President Emmanuel Macron said at the time that the tanker, named Greenwich, was subject to international sanctions and was suspected of flying false flags.
Reports indicate that both France and the UK have stated that they will intercept any ships that pass through their territorial waters and are associated with Russias sanctioned shadow fleet. British Prime Minister David Cameron announced in March this year that he had authorized the British military to board ships belonging to the shadow fleet for inspections.
However, shipping data shows that dozens of ships related to Russia and subject to sanctions are still continuing to navigate through British waters.
For a long time, Western countries have accused Russia of using commercial vessels such as oil tankers to circumvent Western sanctions. These commercial vessels are referred to as shadow fleets. In addition to Russia, Venezuela and Iran have also been accused of using such fleets to export oil.
Previously, the EU has adopted a series of sanctions against Russia. These sanctions include measures targeting Russian shadow fleets, such as prohibiting these ships from docking in EU ports and suspending the provision of related maritime services.
