French President Emmanuel Macron announced the successful operation to detain another tanker linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet”. This is already the fourth such incident since the beginning of the current year.
The French leader made the announcement in his official X account on Thursday, 25 June. Macron posted a video showing French naval special forces rappelling from a helicopter onto the tanker’s deck.
“We will not allow the ‘shadow fleet’ to bypass sanctions and finance Russia’s military machine. Europe is determined,” the French President emphasised.
According to French authorities, the tanker Deliver (sailing under the flag of Cameroon) was intercepted on 23 June in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Sicily. The vessel was violating international maritime law and is suspected of transporting Russian oil in circumvention of the price cap and sanctions.
The operation was conducted in strict accordance with international law. The tanker was taken under the control of the French Navy.
Earlier in 2026, French forces had already detained the tankers Grinch, Deyna, and Tagor. The latest operation was carried out with the support of allies, including the United Kingdom.
These actions by European countries are aimed at reducing Russia’s revenues from energy exports, which, according to the EU and its partners, directly finance military operations in Ukraine.
So far, there has been no official reaction from Russian authorities regarding the detention of the tanker Deliver. Previously, Moscow has described such operations as “piracy” and “illegal”.