France Intercepts Tanker in Mediterranean Linked to Russia's Oil Smuggling

Fri Jan 23 2026 14:35:12 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

French authorities seize the oil tanker 'Grinch', suspected of circumventing international sanctions against Russia amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

In a significant maritime operation, France has seized the oil tanker 'Grinch' in the Mediterranean Sea, which is suspected of being part of a Russian 'shadow fleet' attempting to evade sanctions placed due to the war in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the importance of upholding international law while allies like the UK provided logistical support during the operation. The tanker was believed to be transporting oil from Russia and was flying under a false flag. The move is part of wider efforts to cut funding for Russia's military endeavors.

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 the assistance of allies including the UK, boarded the vessel on Thursday morning between Spain and Morocco. A search of the vessel confirmed suspicions regarding the legitimacy of the flag it was flying.

Moscow's embassy in Paris reported that it had not been informed of the seizure.

The so-called shadow fleet is a network of tankers used by Russia to evade Western sanctions on oil exports, utilizing aging vessels with ambiguous ownership and insurance details. The Grinch was attempting to navigate from the Arctic port of Murmansk when intercepted.

Macron announced the seizure on X, insisting the importance of enforcing sanctions effectively: 'The activities of the shadow fleet contribute to financing the war of aggression against Ukraine,' he stated.

Defence Secretary John Healy confirmed the UK’s involvement in tracking and monitoring the tanker during its transit through the Straits of Gibraltar. The UK has imposed sanctions on 544 vessels associated with Russia's shadow fleet.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the seizure, pressing that vessels must be caught to prevent financing of the war.

Earlier in January, British forces collaborated in a US operation to seize another Russian-flagged tanker in the Atlantic for carrying oil in breach of sanctions. This seizure reflects broader efforts by nations to clamp down on Russia's oil trade amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.