The French navy intercepted an oil tanker sailing from Russia in the Mediterranean on Friday, as President Emmanuel Macron insisted France would press ahead with efforts to back Ukraine despite the Iran war.
This is the third such suspected "shadow fleet" tanker intercepted by France in recent months.
"This morning in the Mediterranean, the French Navy intercepted and boarded another vessel from the shadow fleet, the Deyna," Macron said on X.
Several European countries have targeted Moscow's so-called "shadow fleet" of tankers used to transport oil in breach of Western sanctions imposed over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, now in its fifth year.
Local authorities said the navy intercepted the Mozambican-flagged vessel – which sailed from Murmansk in northwestern Russia – over its registration.
The operation was carried out in coordination with other countries, including Britain, "which participated in tracking the vessel," the maritime prefecture said.
The ship will undergo further checks once anchored, it added.
The 250-metre (820-feet) tanker, which is on an EU sanctions list, was located near Spain's Balearic Islands and will be escorted to French waters in coming days, according to a source close to the investigation.
'Line their pockets'
Macron has pledged that France would maintain pressure on Russia to end its invasion of Ukraine.
The president on Friday labelled "shadow fleet" vessels "profiteers of war," accusing them of bypassing international sanctions and violating maritime law.
"They line their pockets while helping finance Russia's war effort," he said.
With global attention focused on the US-Israeli war with Iran, France will keep supporting Ukraine, Macron added.
"We remain resolute," he wrote in English.
"The war involving Iran will not deflect France from its support for Ukraine, where Russia's war of aggression continues unabated."
The United States has eased some restrictions on Russia's oil sales as it tries to stabilise global energy markets, upended by Iran blocking the Strait of Hormuz.
The move was criticised by Macron who pledged Russia would get no "respite" while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said easing sanctions was "wrong".
Multi-million euro fine
French forces boarded another suspected Russian tanker, the Grinch, in January. But the ship was later let go after its owner paid a multi-million-euro fine.
In February, it was revealed that two employees of a Russian private security company were on another suspected Russian "shadow fleet" tanker seized by France in September, the Boracay.
The Chinese captain of the vessel went on trial in absentia, with prosecutors demanding he serve a one-year jail sentence for failing to follow orders to stop the ship.
Other European nations have also ramped up efforts to seize Russia-linked vessels.
In early March, Belgian special forces intercepted a tanker in the North Sea, with aerial support from France.
The Swedish coast guard last week arrested the Russian captain of a suspected "shadow fleet" vessel on suspicion of forging documents and violating the maritime code.
Nearly 600 vessels suspected of being part of Russia's "shadow fleet" are subject to European Union sanctions.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)