French Navy Intercepts Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker in Mediterranean Sea

The French Navy conducted an operation to intercept a vessel linked to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet in the Mediterranean Sea.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced this on social media platform X, emphasizing continued support for Ukraine.

The Deyna is a tanker suspected of circumventing international sanctions and violating maritime law.

According to Macron, the vessel was used to finance Russia’s war against Ukraine through covert oil export schemes.

French military personnel boarded the tanker in the western Mediterranean as part of a joint operation with allies, including the United Kingdom.

The vessel was sailing from the Russian port of Murmansk and was flying a foreign flag, which could have been used to conceal its true origin.

Officials in Paris emphasize that such ships are part of an extensive network of a shadow fleet that allows Russia to circumvent sanctions and maintain revenue from energy exports.

Macron called such vessels ‘war profiteers’ that “seek to make a profit and finance the war,” emphasizing France’s intention to counter these activities.

At the same time, the French emphasized that their support for Ukraine remains unwavering, even amid the escalating situation in the Middle East, including the conflict surrounding Iran.

This is not the first incident of its kind. In 2026, France and its allies repeatedly intercepted vessels linked to Russian schemes to circumvent sanctions at sea.