Summary
French soldiers boarded an oil tanker called the Boracay, linked to Russia's "shadow fleet," off the coast of France due to concerns about sanctions evasion. The tanker was suspected of being part of a fleet used by Russia to avoid sanctions related to the war in Ukraine. French authorities have launched an investigation into the ship's activities.
Key Facts
- French troops boarded the Boracay, suspected of being part of Russia's "shadow fleet."
- The "shadow fleet" is believed to help Russia circumvent energy sanctions imposed by Western countries.
- The Boracay departed from Russia last month and was near Denmark when airports temporarily closed due to drone incidents.
- French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned serious offenses by the crew but did not provide details.
- The Boracay is Benin-flagged and listed under UK and EU sanctions.
- French officials are investigating for failure to comply with an order to stop and unclear ship flag nationality.
- Russia reportedly has a fleet of 600 to 1,000 tankers used to export oil through hidden ownership.
- EU leaders are discussing stronger defenses in response to Russian activities in European airspace.
