France Intercepts Russian Oil Tanker Suspected of Sanction Evasion

Mon Feb 02 2026 15:29:21 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a significant maritime operation, France has seized the 'Grinch', an oil tanker suspected of being part of Russia's clandestine efforts to bypass international sanctions, amid ongoing tensions related to the Ukraine conflict.

French authorities, with support from the UK, have seized an oil tanker in the Mediterranean believed to be aiding Russia's evasion of international sanctions. The tanker, named the 'Grinch', was intercepted while sailing from Murmansk and is suspected of flying a false flag. This enforcement action comes amid broader efforts by Western nations to restrict Russian oil exports in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Zelensky has applauded the action, calling for more aggressive measures against sanction-busting vessels.

In a decisive action against sanction evasion, France has seized an oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea, suspected of being part of a Russian 'shadow fleet' designed to bypass international sanctions that were imposed following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The tanker, named the 'Grinch', was reportedly traveling from Murmansk, Russia, when it was intercepted by French naval forces in coordination with the UK navy.

French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the seizure, stating that the vessel was under international sanctions and suspected of operating under a false flag, having been documented as flying the flag of Comoros. A statement from the French maritime authorities indicated that the search of the tanker confirmed suspicions regarding its compliance with maritime regulations.

The tactical operation, which took place on Thursday morning between Spain and Morocco, is a part of concerted efforts by Western allies to target the shipping networks supplying Russian oil. The actions come as part of a broader strategy to enforce sanctions that aim to curtail funding for Russia's military activities in Ukraine. Macron emphasized a commitment to uphold international law and asserted that such shadow fleet activities are essential to financing the war against Ukraine.

Moscow's embassy in Paris has claimed that they were not notified of the tanker’s seizure, highlighting the diplomatic tensions surrounding this issue.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, responding to this action, expressed approval, stating that it aligns with the necessary firmness to prevent Russian oil from funding the ongoing conflict. He proposed that the confiscated oil should be sold to bolster support for Ukraine, illustrating the complexities of international oil markets in times of conflict.

This operation reflects a growing momentum against Russia’s clandestine efforts to evade sanctions, particularly through the utilization of aging tankers with ambiguous ownership and enhanced secrecy. Reports from financial intelligence firm S&P Global indicate that as many as one in five oil tankers worldwide might be involved in smuggling operations related to sanctioned countries.

Previously, in actions similar to the seizure of the Grinch, the UK had recently collaborated with the US to intercept a Russian-flagged tanker thought to be involved in sanction violations by transporting oil to Venezuela.