French commandos intercepted a Russian-linked oil tanker, identified as the 'Deliver,' off the coast of Sicily on Tuesday as part of ongoing efforts to combat Moscow's "shadow fleet." The vessel, which was flying a Cameroonian flag and had departed from Russia's Baltic port of Primorsk, was boarded due to uncertainties regarding the validity of its flag, according to the maritime prefecture.
The French navy is currently escorting the tanker to an anchorage for further inspection. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the "Deliver" is connected to Russia's "shadow fleet," a network of vessels allegedly used to circumvent Western sanctions imposed after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
"This latest action against the shadow fleet, conducted just days after a similar operation by the United Kingdom, illustrates the resolve of the Europeans," Macron wrote on X. "We will not allow the shadow fleet to evade sanctions and fund Russia's war effort. Europe is determined."
This incident marks the fifth oil tanker suspected of being part of the "shadow fleet" that French authorities have boarded since September 2025. These vessels often engage in "flag-hopping," changing their registered flags or using invalid registrations to evade tracking.
In late May, French authorities, with assistance from the UK, detained the tanker "Tagor" in the Atlantic on suspicion of flying a false flag. The Russian captain of the "Tagor" was taken into custody but later released. He faced potential penalties including a prison sentence and a fine over the suspected lack of a flag and non-compliance with naval orders.
Previous boardings by French forces include the "Boracay" in September, whose Chinese captain was later sentenced in absentia. In January, French forces impounded the "Grinch," and in March, the "Deyna," which sailed from Murmansk under a Mozambican flag, was detained in Marseille. Both were later released after paying fines.
In response to these activities, France announced in April a plan to double penalties for ships that fail to fly a flag or refuse to comply with orders. Several Western nations have imposed sanctions on hundreds of suspected "shadow fleet" vessels since the Ukraine invasion, with EU sanctions affecting nearly 600 ships. Russian President Vladimir Putin has characterized the detention of Russia-linked vessels as an act of "piracy."