French Navy Detains Russian Oil Tanker TAGOR

The French Navy has seized the oil tanker TAGOR, part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” which is under international sanctions.

The ship was intercepted while sailing from Russian territory, President Emmanuel Macron announced.

The operation took place in the Atlantic Ocean, with French naval forces acting alongside several international partners, including the United Kingdom.

President Macron stressed that such vessels are in direct violation of maritime law.

He also noted that the activities of this sanctioned fleet help fund Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which has been ongoing for over four years.

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.

Cette intervention a été effectuée en Atlantique, en haute mer,… pic.twitter.com/zxEslYjbUE

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 1, 2026

“Ships that do not follow the most basic rules of maritime navigation also pose a threat to the environment and everyone’s safety,” he added.

According to VesselFinder, the TAGOR was located near the western coast of Norway at the end of May and was sailing from Murmansk.

This is already the third Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker detained by France. The first one was detained in January this year and was suspected of using a false flag.

It was the tanker GRINCH, which departed from Murmansk and passed through the Strait of Gibraltar.

At the end of January, Emmanuel Macron announced that France was forced to release the tanker due to national legal requirements.

Later, the French Navy intercepted a second oil tanker called DEYNA in the Mediterranean Sea.

The ship had departed from the Russian port of Murmansk and was sailing under a foreign flag, which may have been used to hide its real origin.