The French navy detained the tanker Tagor in the Atlantic on Sunday morning. The vessel originates from Russia and is subject to international sanctions. French President Emmanuel Macron announced the operation on Monday, writing on X that France’s partners, including the United Kingdom, provided support.
The detention of Tagor is the latest in a series of such actions in recent months. In March 2026, France detained the tanker Deyna, which belongs to the Russian shadow fleet, in the Mediterranean Sea. In January 2026, the tanker Grinch, also subject to Western sanctions, was detained in the same waters.
– It is unacceptable for ships to circumvent international sanctions, violate the law of the sea and finance the war that Russia has been waging against Ukraine for more than four years – wrote Emmanuel Macron on X.
The French president assured that his country’s stance is unchanged and fully determined. He added that ships that do not observe the most elementary rules of navigation also pose a threat to safety and the environment. The operation to detain Tagor was carried out in accordance with international law, and France’s partners, including the United Kingdom, provided support.
Shadow fleet numbers 590 vessels
The EU’s shadow fleet list includes approximately 590 vessels. These are ships that often change flags, owners or routes to make identification more difficult and to evade sanctions. European countries’ actions against the Russian shadow fleet are becoming increasingly coordinated, and the aim is to limit the ability to transport Russian oil while bypassing the applicable restrictions.
Macron had announced in previous months that he wanted to increase pressure on the shadow fleet, which enables Russia to derive oil revenues while circumventing the sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The sanctions are intended to prevent Russia from financing the war and to limit its economic capabilities. European Union countries and their allies stress that the restrictions are a response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
Russia does not recognise sanctions
Russia has repeatedly criticised Western sanctions, calling them illegal and ineffective. The Kremlin consistently questions the legitimacy of the restrictions and seeks ways to circumvent them, including through the use of older, less well‑known vessels that are not insured by Western companies. The shadow fleet often operates without proper certificates and safety standards, increasing the risk of environmental disasters.
The detention of Tagor shows that pressure on vessels evading sanctions is increasing. France is systematically patrolling waters where suspicious ships may appear. In the coming months, further tightening of controls on vessels suspected of being involved in circumventing international trade restrictions can be expected. Cooperation between European countries, including the exchange of intelligence and coordination of patrols, is crucial for the effectiveness of these actions.
Fot. Unsplash
