The French Navy, supported by the United Kingdom and other partners, boarded the oil tanker Tagor on Sunday in the Atlantic Ocean. President Emmanuel Macron announced the operation on X, stating the vessel had sailed from Murmansk and was subject to international sanctions.
The interception is part of a crackdown on Russia's shadow fleet, which consists of old tankers with opaque ownership used to evade sanctions. French officials stated the ship was sailing under a false flag. President Macron said it is unacceptable for ships to skirt international sanctions and violate the law of the sea to finance the war Russia has waged against Ukraine for more than four years, noting that these ships also threaten the environment and security.
Oil revenue remains a key component of the Russian economy, allowing the government to fund its war effort without triggering a currency collapse or worsening inflation for its citizens. The French Navy has intercepted several other tankers suspected of links to Russia, including the Grinch in January and the Deyna in March. The Grinch was released in February after paying a multimillion-euro penalty.