France intercepts sanctioned Russian oil tanker, Macron says

France intercepted a sanctioned Russian lipid tanker successful the Atlantic connected Sunday with the enactment of allies including the UK, French President Emmanuel Macron has said.

He said the French Navy boarded the Tagor, which maritime authorities said had been flying a mendacious emblem erstwhile it was detained astir 400 nautical miles westbound of Brittany successful planetary waters.

"It is unacceptable for ships to circumvent planetary sanctions, interruption the instrumentality of the sea, and money the warfare that Russia has been waging against Ukraine for much than 4 years," Macron wrote connected X.

The Kremlin said the "illegal" seizure was "bordering connected planetary piracy".

"Russia is taking measures to guarantee the information of its cargo," said spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

Moscow has been operating a alleged "shadow fleet" of tankers with obscure ownership structures to evade planetary sanctions imposed connected its lipid exports since launching its full-scale penetration of Ukraine successful 2022.

It is the 4th specified vessel that France has boarded since September 2025.

Macron said the cognition had been undertaken "in strict compliance with the instrumentality of the sea".

"These vessels, which neglect to adhere to the astir basal rules of maritime navigation, besides airs a menace to the situation and to everyone's safety," helium said.

In a video shared by the French president, equipped naval officers could beryllium seen boarding the tanker via a helicopter. The BBC has not verified the footage.

Previously, French authorities had allowed these ships to proceed operating aft their owners paid fines but person since vowed to artifact them.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced successful March helium likewise had granted support for the UK subject to committee sanctioned Russian ships.

The Ministry of Defence said astatine the clip it was "disrupting and deterring" shadiness fleet vessels, without providing circumstantial details.