French authorities have imposed a €1 million fine on the owner of the tanker Tagor, which belongs to Russia’s “shadow fleet” and was used to transport Russian oil in circumvention of sanctions. This was reported by Reuters, citing the French Ministry of Justice.
The tanker was detained on May 31, 2026, in international waters of the Atlantic Ocean. French military intercepted the vessel on suspicion of sailing under a false flag (Cameroonian) and refusing to comply with the order to stop. After that, the Tagor was escorted to Douarnenez Bay near Brest in Brittany.
According to the Brest prosecutor’s office, the fine was imposed specifically for these violations. After payment of the fine, the tanker was allowed to leave French waters.
The ship-owning company is registered in the Marshall Islands. An investigation was previously conducted regarding the tanker’s captain (a Russian citizen), but he was released after a short detention.
This incident is part of a broader European campaign against Russia’s “shadow fleet,” which is used to bypass EU sanctions and finance the war against Ukraine. France has already detained several such vessels.