France intercepts sanctioned Russian tanker in Atlantic Ocean
The French Navy detained a sanctioned Russian oil tanker Tagor in the Atlantic Ocean on 31 May.
"It is unacceptable for vessels to circumvent international sanctions, violate maritime law and finance the war that Russia has been waging against Ukraine for over four years. These vessels, which do not comply with the most basic rules of maritime navigation, also pose a threat to the environment and the safety of everyone," French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X.
La Marine nationale a arraisonné hier matin un nouveau pétrolier sous sanctions internationales en provenance de Russie : le Tagor. Notre détermination est constante et totale.
– Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 1, 2026
Cette intervention a été effectuée en Atlantique, en haute mer,… pic.twitter.com/zxEslYjbUE
Macron added that the operation had been carried out in international waters within the Atlantic Ocean, supported by a number of partners, including the UK.
He emphasised that the operation had been conducted in strict accordance with maritime law.
The Swedish Coast Guard detained a sanctioned vessel near the coast of Trelleborg in early May.
Romania and Bulgaria are making progress towards establishing a security hub to monitor shipping in the Black Sea, which includes identifying potential routes used by Russia's shadow fleet.