France impounds Russian tanker it says was dodging Ukraine sanctions

French naval forces boarded and seized a Russian oil tanker in the Mediterranean near Sicily, Al Jazeera reported Thursday. French authorities said the vessel was part of Moscow’s so-called “shadow fleet,” a network they say is used to avoid sanctions imposed over Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The seizure marks the fifth Russian tanker linked to that fleet to be taken by France, according to Al Jazeera. The move points to continued European pressure on ships accused of helping Russia keep oil revenues flowing despite sanctions.

French officials said the tanker was connected to efforts to bypass restrictions tied to the Ukraine war, Al Jazeera reported. The report did not identify the vessel, give its flag state or provide details on its cargo, crew or final destination.

Russia’s embassy in France rejected the action and described it as “another case of piracy,” according to Al Jazeera. The embassy’s response underscored the diplomatic friction around Western enforcement against Russian-linked maritime trade.

The term “shadow fleet” is used by Western governments and analysts to describe tankers that operate outside conventional shipping channels to move Russian oil. In this case, French authorities tied the seized ship directly to sanctions evasion related to the war in Ukraine, Al Jazeera reported.

No injuries, legal filings or follow-up enforcement steps were reported in the initial account. The seizure took place in the Mediterranean Sea near Sicily, a key route for commercial shipping between Europe, North Africa and the eastern Mediterranean.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.