Watch: French Navy Intercepts Russia-Linked Tanker In Atlantic Ocean With UK Support

France has intercepted a sanctioned oil tanker linked to Russia in the Atlantic Ocean, with support from the United Kingdom, as part of efforts to target ships suspected of evading Western sanctions.

The vessel, identified as the Tagor, was boarded on Sunday around 400 nautical miles west of Brittany in international waters.

French authorities said the tanker was suspected of flying a false flag and did not comply with orders from maritime officials before it was boarded.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the operation was carried out with allies, including the UK, and in accordance with international maritime law. He said it is not acceptable for ships to bypass sanctions, break maritime rules, and help fund Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The Tagor was flying a Cameroonian flag at the time of interception and is understood to have previously used multiple registrations, including Madagascar, the Marshall Islands and Panama.

Officials said documentation checks confirmed irregularities in the vessel’s declared nationality.

The tanker had departed from the Russian Arctic port of Murmansk and was reportedly en route toward Limbe in Cameroon when intercepted.

The ship had 23 crew members and was escorted by the French navy to an anchorage point for further checks. The operation was carried out by French naval forces using a helicopter boarding method.

La Marine nationale a arraisonné hier matin un nouveau pétrolier sous sanctions internationales en provenance de Russie : le Tagor. Notre détermination est constante et totale.

Cette intervention a été effectuée en Atlantique, en haute mer,… pic.twitter.com/zxEslYjbUE

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 1, 2026

The UK Ministry of Defence said a British helicopter provided tracking and monitoring support during the operation. The helicopter was operating from HMS Somerset.

UK officials said the action is part of efforts with allies to disrupt so-called shadow fleet vessels that help move Russian oil despite sanctions.

The Kremlin said the seizure was illegal and called it “bordering on international piracy.”

Russian officials said they are taking steps to ensure the safety of the cargo and requested information about the crew.

The Russian embassy in France also said it had asked for details but had not received a response at the time.

The Tagor is part of what Western countries call Russia’s “shadow fleet” of oil tankers used to move crude oil while avoiding sanctions imposed after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

These vessels often change flags, use unclear ownership structures, and may not follow standard shipping documentation rules.

France has now boarded several suspected shadow fleet vessels since September 2025, with at least three other similar operations reported.

French prosecutors in Brest have opened a criminal investigation into the tanker for failure to prove nationality, absence of a valid flag, and refusal to comply with instructions.

Authorities said the vessel is currently being held for inspection while checks continue on its documents and status.

References: BBC, CNN