The French Navy, in a commando-style operation supported by British intelligence, has seized a suspected Russian 'shadow fleet' oil tanker, named the Grinch, in the Mediterranean Sea. The vessel was intercepted on a Thursday, linked by UK intelligence to Moscow's network of tankers designed to circumvent Western sanctions and maintain oil revenues for Russia's economy.

French maritime authorities confirmed the ship was suspected of operating under a false flag, a tactic commonly employed by Russia's shadow fleet to obscure the origin and destination of oil shipments. French military officials stated that the mission was conducted in cooperation with the UK, which gathered and shared the crucial intelligence enabling the interception.

The Grinch, which had sailed from Murmansk in northern Russia and was flying a false flag from the Comoros islands, was intercepted off the southern Spanish coastal town of Almeria. After boarding the tanker at sea, the French Navy is now escorting it to port for further inspections.

Oil revenues are vital for Russia, enabling President Vladimir Putin to finance the war effort against Ukraine without significantly impacting domestic inflation or causing a currency collapse.

French President, Emmanuel Macron emphasized the determination to uphold international law and ensure effective sanctions enforcement, stating that "The activities of the 'shadow fleet' contribute to financing the war of aggression against Ukraine." UK Defence Secretary John Healy affirmed Britain's support, noting that the UK navy provided "tracking and monitoring" assistance, with HMS Dagger monitoring the tanker through the Straits of Gibraltar. He added that allies are "stepping up our response to shadow vessels to choke off the funds that fuel Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine."

Russia's 'shadow fleet' consists of aging oil tankers used to secretly transport crude worldwide, often by switching flags, disabling tracking systems, and obscuring ownership to evade Western sanctions and price caps imposed after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Experts estimate this clandestine network numbers over 400 ships, with the UK having already imposed sanctions on 544 alleged shadow vessels.

Ministers believe UK and allied actions have already pressured around 200 such vessels off the seas, many of which were likely operating without legitimate flags. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the seizure, describing it as "exactly the kind of resolve needed" to prevent Russian oil from financing the war, and suggested confiscating and selling the oil carried by these tankers.

The incident highlights a broader international effort against such sanction-busting operations. In January, British armed forces supported a US operation to seize a Russian-flagged tanker in the Atlantic carrying oil for Venezuela and Russia, a move Moscow denounced. Last October, France also briefly seized another sanctioned tanker, the Boracay. Beyond Russia, countries like Venezuela and Iran are also accused of utilizing shadow fleets to circumvent oil sanctions. Financial intelligence firm S&P Global estimates that a significant one in five oil tankers globally are involved in smuggling oil from sanctioned nations.