France Intercepts Russian Oil Tanker as Part of Sanction Enforcement

Mon Feb 02 2026 15:52:43 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a significant action against Russia's oil export evasion, France has seized the 'Grinch', an oil tanker suspected of operating under a false flag, amidst ongoing efforts to uphold international sanctions.

France has successfully boarded and seized an oil tanker in the Mediterranean, suspected of being part of Russia's sanction-evading 'shadow fleet'. The tanker, named the 'Grinch', was intercepted during a joint operation with UK naval forces, highlighting a concerted international effort to enforce sanctions against Russian oil exports amidst the continuing conflict in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the activities of the shadow fleet, stressing the importance of maintaining international law.

France says it has seized an oil tanker in the Mediterranean suspected of being part of Russia's sanction-busting 'shadow fleet'.

French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the tanker, named the Grinch, was 'subject to international sanctions and suspected of flying a false flag'.

The French navy, with assistance from allies including the UK, boarded the vessel on Thursday morning between Spain and Morocco. Following a search, they confirmed doubts regarding the authenticity of the ship's flag.

Russia's embassy in Paris claimed they had not been informed of the seizure.

Moscow's so-called shadow fleet refers to a clandestine network of tankers designed to evade Western sanctions on Russian oil exports by utilizing older tankers with obscure ownership or insurance. The Grinch was reportedly en route from the Arctic port of Murmansk when intercepted.

Macron declared on social media, 'We are determined to uphold international law and to ensure the effective enforcement of sanctions,' adding that the activities of the 'shadow fleet' contribute to financing the war of aggression against Ukraine.

UK Defence Secretary John Healy emphasized the UK's commitment to tracking and monitoring such vessels, as they aim to cut off funds supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The UK has imposed sanctions on 544 Russian shadow fleet vessels to date.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his approval of the action, stating it represented the resolve needed to prevent Russian oil from financing the war, and suggested that the confiscation and sale of the oil carried by these tankers would be fair.

Earlier in January, British armed forces aided a US-led operation to seize a Russian tanker that had violated sanctions by carrying oil to and from Venezuela. Moscow rebuffed the action, contesting the legitimacy of force used against properly registered vessels.

The rise of shadow fleets has drawn attention, with nations such as Venezuela, Iran, and Russia utilizing them to circumvent oil sanctions. Financial intelligence indicates that around one in five oil tankers worldwide is now involved in smuggling oil from sanctioned countries.