The French leader revealed that an oil tanker was seized in the Mediterranean Sea due to suspicions that the vessel might be a Russian ship trying to escape sanctions.
On Thursday, 22 Jan 2026 GMT+7, French authorities stated that their officials seized an oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea because it was suspected to be part of Russia's “shadow fleet,” which is used to evade sanctions.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated on X that the oil tanker named “The Grinch” is under international sanctions and is suspected of flying a false flag.
The French Navy, with assistance from allies, boarded and inspected the tanker on Thursday morning in waters between Spain and Morocco. French maritime officials confirmed that the inspection verified suspicions regarding the ship's improper flag.
Macron added, “The activities of the 'shadow fleet' contribute to financing the war of aggression against Ukraine.” Officials have begun an investigation, and the ship has been redirected.
French officials noted that The Grinch was traveling from the port of Murmansk, an Arctic port in northern Russia, when intercepted. According to maritime tracking websites marinetraffic and vesselfinder, the ship was flying the flag of Comoros.
Reports from French maritime police indicated that navies from other countries supported the operation, while sources from the UK Ministry of Defence confirmed Britain's involvement in the mission.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated the operation, saying it was the decisive action needed to ensure Russian oil is no longer used to fund Russia's war.
“These ships must be seized, and wouldn’t it be even fairer to confiscate the oil they carry to prevent it from being sold?” Zelensky stated on X.
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Source:bbc