France Has Intercepted Yet Another Tanker From Russia's "shadow Fleet"
- 25.06.2026, 15:08
Off the coast of Sicily.
The French military detained a Russian "shadow fleet" tanker subject to sanctions in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Sicily.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced this on social media, according to "European Truth".
On Tuesday, the French Navy detained the oil tanker Deliver, which belongs to Russia’s “shadow fleet.”
According to data from MarineTraffic, the vessel was flying the Cameroonian flag and was en route from the Russian port of Primorsk to Singapore.
Macron noted that France seized the sanctioned tanker just a few days after the United Kingdom carried out a similar operation by detaining the vessel SMYRTOS, which demonstrates the Europeans’ resolve.
The French president also emphasized that Europe will continue to put pressure on Russia by increasing the cost of the war for it.
On Tuesday, the French Navy boarded the oil tanker Deliver as it was transiting off the coast of Sicily in violation of the law of the sea.
This latest action against the ghost fleet, carried out a few days after a similar operation by the United Kingdom… pic.twitter.com/5Gjn43MhLr
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 25, 2026
“We will not allow the ‘shadow fleet’ to circumvent sanctions and finance Russian military operations. Europe is resolute. It will make every necessary effort to increase the cost of the war for Russia and ensure a lasting and long-term peace in Ukraine,” Macron said.
As a reminder, on May 31, France detained the Russian oil tanker Tagor in the Atlantic Ocean. This was the fourth time the country had intercepted vessels from Russia’s “shadow fleet.” The previous three tankers were detained but were later allowed to continue their journey after paying fines.
Media reports indicate that the British government is considering a plan to sell 98,000 metric tons of Russian crude oil from the “shadow fleet” tanker seized by London, with the proceeds to be transferred to Ukraine.
Read more about this in the article “Russophobia to Combat the Crisis: Why the British Government Decided to Seize a Russian Tanker.”