French Troops Seize Oil Tanker Linked to Russian Sanctions Evasion

Fri Oct 10 2025 14:20:34 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a strategic move, French military forces have boarded the Boracay, an oil tanker suspected of facilitating Russia's circumvention of sanctions. This action follows recent drone-related security breaches in Denmark and highlights the expanding operations of Russia's so-called 'shadow fleet'.

French soldiers have boarded the Boracay, an oil tanker linked to Russia's underground oil trading efforts. The ship, which departed Russia last month, was implicated in recent drone disruptions near Danish airports. As investigations unfold, attention turns to the broader implications of Russia's alternative shipping methods amidst Western sanctions.

French soldiers have boarded an oil tanker believed to be part of Russia's 'shadow fleet', which is used to evade sanctions imposed due to the war in Ukraine.

The Boracay left Russia last month and was anchored off the coast of Denmark when unidentified drones forced the temporary closure of several airports in the area last week. The vessel has since been docked off western France.

At an EU leaders' summit in Copenhagen on Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the crew committed 'serious offences', although he did not provide further details.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded by claiming that Russia had no knowledge of the Boracay.

Reports indicate that French military personnel boarded the vessel on Saturday, as authorities in Brest initiated an investigation related to non-compliance with maritime orders and the ship's flagged nationality.

As Western nations continue to sanction Russian energy exports following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has reportedly assembled a 'shadow fleet' of up to 1,000 tankers to circumvent these restrictions.

The Boracay, which carries numerous names including Pushpa and Kiwala, is flagged in Benin but is under UK and EU sanctions. It was previously detained by Estonian authorities for sailing without a valid flag.

After leaving the Russian port of Primorsk, the vessel traversed the Baltic Sea, past Denmark, into the North Sea, and headed toward the English Channel. Its arrival in Vadinar, India, was scheduled for October 20, but it altered course upon detection by a French warship.

The recent EU summit in Copenhagen focused on enhancing European defense against potential Russian incursions, particularly in light of recent drone disruptions targeting Danish military sites and civilian airports. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen advocate for a robust EU response to perceived threats from Russia.