France seizes suspected Russian 'shadow fleet' oil tanker in the Mediterranean

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete January 22, 2026 at 07:32 PM

AI Summary

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France seized an oil tanker, named the Grinch, in the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday, suspected of being part of Russia's "shadow fleet" evading Western sanctions. The French navy, with support from allies like the UK, intercepted the vessel traveling from Murmansk, Russia, and flying a Comoros flag between Spain and Morocco. Authorities suspect the tanker was using a false flag and violating international sanctions imposed due to Russia's war in Ukraine. The "shadow fleet" is used to secretly transport Russian oil to circumvent sanctions. The UK provided tracking and monitoring support, while Ukraine's President Zelensky welcomed the seizure and suggested confiscating the oil. Russia's embassy in Paris stated they were not informed of the seizure.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Paris 40% Spain 40% Morocco 40% Murmansk 50% Mediterranean Sea 60% Volodymyr Zelenskyy ×260% UK ×360% Ukraine ×370% Emmanuel Macron ×270% The Grinch ×480% Russia ×890% France ×390%

Keywords

shadow fleet 100% oil tanker seizure 90% russian oil sanctions 80% sanction evasion 70% ukraine war 60% false flag 50% international law 50% maritime security 40%