Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tanker diverted to French port by naval forces

French prosecutors accidental Russia-linked tanker ‘Grinch’ nether probe aft interception successful occidental Mediterranean.

The French navy has diverted an ‍oil tanker, suspected of being portion of Russia’s sanctions-busting “shadow fleet”, ‍towards the larboard of Marseille-Fos for further investigation, according to reports.

The bureau of the ​prosecutor successful the confederate French metropolis of Marseille, which handles matters related to ‌maritime instrumentality and is investigating the case, said connected Friday that the vessel had been diverted, but did not specify wherever to.

Recommended Stories

• list 1 of 4Russia-Ukraine war: List of cardinal events, time 1,430
• list 2 of 4UK’s Starmer slams Trump implicit ‘insulting’ Afghanistan comments
• list 3 of 4In US state Thailand, feelings of betrayal aft Trump’s visa freeze
• list 4 of 4Trump revokes Canada’s invitation to articulation Board of Peace

A root adjacent to the lawsuit told the AFP quality bureau that the tanker is expected to get connected Saturday greeting astatine the larboard of Marseille-Fos successful confederate France.

The ‘Grinch ‘ tanker was intercepted by French naval forces connected Thursday portion connected the precocious seas successful the occidental Mediterranean, betwixt the confederate seashore of Spain and the bluish seashore of Morocco, France’s maritime constabulary said successful a statement.

It added that navies of different countries, including Britain, supported the operation.

Video footage released by the French subject of the cognition showed a portion of soldiers descending from a chopper onto the platform of the Russia-linked ship. The boarding of the vas progressive a navy vessel and 2 navy helicopters, according to reports.

The Grinch, which was sailing nether a Comoros flag, near the Russian Arctic larboard of Murmansk successful ​early January and is suspected of operating nether a ‍false emblem and of belonging to the secretive fleet of ships that enables Russia to export lipid astir the satellite contempt planetary sanctions owed to Moscow’s warfare connected Ukraine.

The AFP quality bureau reported that a vessel called “Grinch” is nether United Kingdom sanctions, portion different named “Carl” – with the aforesaid registration fig – is sanctioned by the United States and European Union.

Prosecutors successful Marseille said they were investigating the ship’s alleged nonaccomplishment to corroborate its nationality.

The EU has ‌imposed 19 packages of sanctions against Russia, but Moscow has adapted to astir measures ‌and continues to merchantability millions of barrels ⁠of lipid to countries specified arsenic India and China, typically astatine discounted prices.

Much of the oil, which is cardinal to financing its warfare successful Ukraine, is carried by what is known arsenic ‌a shadiness fleet of vessels operating extracurricular of Western maritime manufacture regulations.

In October, France detained different Russian-linked sanctioned tanker, the Boracay, disconnected its ‍west seashore and released it aft a fewer days.

The Boracay’s Chinese skipper is to basal proceedings successful France successful February implicit the crew’s alleged refusal to cooperate with investigators, according to French judicial authorities.

This aerial representation taken connected October 1, 2025, disconnected the seashore of occidental France shows French soldiers connected committee a tanker from Russia’s alleged ‘shadow fleet’. Named the Pushpa oregon Boracay, the Benin-flagged vas is blacklisted by the European Union [Damien Meyer/AFP]