French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that his country’s navy has seized another oil tanker believed to be part of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet — a network of aging vessels Moscow uses to transport oil and gas while evading Western sanctions.
The interception occurred Tuesday as the tanker, named the Deliver, was traveling near the coastline of Sicily. Macron shared the news on Instagram, along with video footage showing French Marines rappelling down from helicopters onto the vessel’s deck.
“This new action against the shadow fleet, conducted days after a similar operation by Britain, shows Europeans’ determination,” Macron wrote in his post.
The French president made clear his country intends to keep up the pressure, stating: “We will not let the shadow fleet evade sanctions and finance the Russian war effort.”
Thursday’s announcement marks at least the fifth tanker France has intercepted that it identifies as part of Russia’s shadow fleet — vessels described as older ships that Russia has come to rely on for moving energy exports in defiance of Western penalties tied to the war in Ukraine.
Russia has condemned such interceptions, characterizing them as illegal actions.
