In a coordinated operation combining French naval power and British intelligence, French authorities intercepted an oil tanker named the Grinch in the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday. The tanker, which departed from Murmansk in northwestern Russia, is under suspicion for employing a false flag strategy as part of Russia’s sanctioned shadow fleet, French maritime officials overseeing the Mediterranean confirmed.
This vessel was located near the southern Spanish coast, off Almeria, in the western Mediterranean. The French navy has since detained and is escorting the tanker to anchorage for detailed examination. The crew aboard the Grinch is reportedly Indian, and the ship was operating under the flag of the Comoros islands, a recognized tactic to obscure ownership and operational control.
Oil exports constitute a vital monetary stream for Russia, fueling President Vladimir Putin’s campaign to finance the ongoing war against Ukraine. Revenues from oil help maintain economic stability in Russia by preventing severe inflation and sustaining the ruble’s value amidst international sanctions.
Western nations including France have intensified efforts to disrupt the shadow fleet, a network estimated to include over 400 vessels. These ships, often aged and registered in countries that avoid sanction engagement, evade detection through nontransparent ownership and false flagging, which complicates enforcement. France and allies are pursuing agreements with flag states to secure authority to board and inspect such vessels.
French President Emmanuel Macron publicly condemned the shadow fleet’s activities, emphasizing their role in financing the aggression against Ukraine. Macron shared a photo illustrating a French helicopter over the ship, underscoring France’s commitment to upholding international law and sanction enforcement.
The success of this naval operation was made possible due to intelligence collaboration with the United Kingdom. French military officials, speaking anonymously due to operational sensitivities, confirmed intelligence sharing was crucial in identifying and intercepting the Grinch.
This incident follows a similar French naval intervention in September when forces boarded another tanker off the French Atlantic coast, also linked to the shadow fleet. That vessel, known variably as Pushpa or Boracay and sailing under Benin’s flag, sailed from Russia's Primorsk oil terminal near Saint Petersburg. Russian President Putin labeled that action as piracy, suggesting domestic motives for the interception, while French authorities proceeded to prosecute the tanker’s captain for non-cooperation, scheduling a trial in February.