France seizes oil tanker departing from Russia.

VTV.vn - The French Navy, with the support of Britain and other partners, has seized a sanctioned oil tanker traveling in the Atlantic Ocean.

The French Navy intercepted the oil tanker Tagor in the Atlantic Ocean on June 1, 2026 (Photo: EmmanuelMacron/X)

French President Emmanuel Macron announced in a social media post: "Yesterday morning (May 31), the French Navy seized an oil tanker, the Tagor, which departed from Russia and was subject to international sanctions. The seizure of this oil tanker was carried out in international waters in the Atlantic Ocean, with the support of several partners, including the United Kingdom, and in full compliance with maritime law."

"The fact that these ships circumvented international sanctions, violated maritime law, and financed the war that Russia has waged against Ukraine for more than four years is unacceptable," Macron added.

According to the VesselFinder tracking service, the oil tanker Tagor flies the flag of Madagascar. The ship's last port call was in Murmansk (Russia) in early May, as noted on the VesselFinder website.

Meanwhile, the Atlantic Maritime Agency said in a separate statement on June 1 that the French Navy had intervened in an oil tanker more than 400 nautical miles (740 km) west of the Cape Brittany, en route from Murmansk, Russia.

French President Emmanuel Macron (Photo: AP)

"This operation aimed to verify the nationality of a vessel suspected of flying a false flag. After the inspection team boarded the vessel, a review of the documents confirmed suspicions about the illegality of the flag being flown. In accordance with international law and at the request of the prosecutor, the vessel was diverted," the statement added.

Earlier, on March 20, the French Navy conducted an operation involving the oil tanker Deyna in the Western Mediterranean. The ship, flying the Mozambican flag, had departed from the Russian port of Murmansk. French President Emmanuel Macron noted that the Deyna was part of Russia's so-called "shadow fleet."

On April 16, the press office of the Mediterranean Maritime Authority announced that French authorities had lifted the detention order on the Deyna vessel after the fine was paid.

France and Britain have both stated they will prevent ships linked to Russia's sanctioned "shadow fleet" from passing through their waters. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in March that he had authorized British troops to board ships belonging to the "shadow fleet".

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stressed that Moscow will use all possible measures to ensure respect for the principle of freedom of navigation in order to counter the EU's "anti-Russian" actions in the seas.

Source: https://vtv.vn/phap-bat-giu-tau-cho-dau-khoi-hanh-tu-nga-100260601165341032.htm