French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that France will not tolerate violations of international law after the French Navy intercepted a Russian oil tanker in the Mediterranean suspected of operating as part of Moscow’s so-called “shadow fleet,” a network used to circumvent international sanctions.
Macron said the tanker was coming from Russia, was subject to international sanctions, and was suspected of sailing under a false flag. “We will not tolerate any violation,” Macron wrote, adding that the operation was conducted on the high seas with the support of several allied nations and in strict compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
We will not tolerate any violation.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) January 22, 2026
This morning, the French Navy boarded an oil tanker coming from Russia, subject to international sanctions and suspected of flying a false flag.
The operation was conducted on the high seas in the Mediterranean,… pic.twitter.com/zhXVdzPx1r
French maritime authorities said the interception took place in the western Mediterranean, between the southern coast of Spain and the northern coast of Morocco. Navies from other countries, including Britain, supported the operation. A judicial investigation has been opened, and the vessel has been diverted for further examination.
The tanker, identified as the GRINCH, was sailing from Murmansk in northern Russia. Macron said its activities were linked to efforts to evade sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. “The activities of the ‘shadow fleet’ contribute to financing the war of aggression against Ukraine,” he said.
The case has been referred to the prosecutor in Marseille, which handles maritime law matters. Authorities will determine whether the vessel violated international regulations or sanctions regimes.
The interception comes as the European Union continues to tighten economic pressure on Moscow. The EU has adopted 19 sanctions packages against Russia, targeting sectors including energy exports. Despite those measures, Russia has continued to sell millions of barrels of oil, often at discounted prices to countries such as India and China, relying in part on vessels operating outside the Western maritime insurance and regulatory system.
France has previously taken similar action. In October, French authorities detained another sanctioned tanker, the Boracay, off the country’s west coast before releasing it several days later.
Macron said Thursday’s operation underscores France’s determination to uphold international law and ensure sanctions are effectively enforced, signaling increased scrutiny of maritime activity linked to Russia’s energy exports as the war in Ukraine continues.
