ATLANTIC OCEAN — The French Navy boarded the oil tanker Tagor on June 1, 2026, more than 400 nautical miles west of the tip of Brittany in the Atlantic Ocean. The vessel, which was sailing from Murmansk, Russia, was subject to international sanctions and suspected of flying a false flag.
The operation, conducted on the high seas in strict compliance with the law of the sea, involved verifying the tanker’s nationality and documentation. According to the Maritime Prefecture of the Atlantic, an examination of the ship’s papers confirmed suspicions about the irregularity of the flag it was flying. In accordance with international law and at the request of the public prosecutor, the vessel was diverted following the boarding.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the action was part of a broader effort to enforce sanctions against Russia’s so-called shadow fleet. "This operation took place in the Atlantic Ocean, on the high seas, with the support of several partners, including the United Kingdom, in strict compliance with the law of the sea," Macron said. He added, "It is unacceptable for ships to circumvent international sanctions, violate the law of the sea, and finance the war that Russia has been waging against Ukraine for more than four years."
The Tagor was sailing from Russian territory at the time of the intervention, and its route and documentation raised enough concern to prompt the French Navy’s involvement. The Maritime Prefecture of the Atlantic confirmed that the boarding occurred in international waters and was carried out under legal authority governing maritime interdiction.
France and Britain have both vowed to obstruct ships linked to Russia's sanctioned 'shadow fleet' that pass through their waters. The June 1 operation reflects that ongoing coordination between the two nations to counter attempts to evade international sanctions through deceptive shipping practices.