French President Emmanuel Macron shared news of the interception in a post on X, stating that the Tagor was boarded on Sunday in the Atlantic. The post featured a video of an individual rappelling from a helicopter onto the vessel.
“It is unacceptable that vessels evade international sanctions, breach maritime law, and finance the war that Russia has been waging against Ukraine for over four years,” Macron expressed. “These ships, which disregard fundamental rules of navigation, pose a threat to environmental safety and public security.”
The revenue from oil is a crucial element of Russia’s economy, enabling Putin to sustain his military expenditure against Ukraine without exacerbating inflation for ordinary citizens or triggering a currency collapse.
It is estimated that Russia employs a fleet of hundreds of vessels to circumvent international sanctions linked to the conflict. France and other nations have committed to intensifying efforts against the sanction-violating so-called “shadow fleet.”
French naval forces have apprehended several tankers believed to be associated with Russia.
Among these is the Deyna, which was boarded in the Mediterranean Sea in March. Another tanker, the Grinch, was intercepted in the Mediterranean in January and released in February after a multimillion-euro fine was paid.
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