Paris, Oct 2(HS): French forces have boarded and taken control of an oil tanker suspected of belonging to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” a network of ships used to bypass Western sanctions imposed after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The vessel, Boracay, flying a Benin flag but previously linked to UK and EU sanctions lists, had departed Russia’s Primorsk port on September 20. It was scheduled to reach India later this month but was intercepted by a French warship off the Brittany coast and diverted towards France.
President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the move at an EU leaders’ summit in Copenhagen, saying the crew had committed “serious offences,” though he gave no further details.French officials have launched an inquiry into the tanker for failing to stop when ordered and for not providing valid documentation of its flag status.
Security sources also noted the ship’s proximity to Denmark last week, when drone incidents disrupted multiple airports, though Macron declined to say whether the tanker might have served as a launch platform.The Kremlin said it had no information about the Boracay, while Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov distanced Moscow from its activities.
The tanker, also known in the past as Pushpa and Kiwala, had earlier been detained in Estonia for operating without a recognized national registry.The operation comes as European leaders face mounting pressure to reinforce regional defence after repeated drone and airspace violations attributed to Russia.
Denmark, which last week saw its major airports affected by drone incursions, has backed stronger collective responses. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, speaking in Copenhagen, said Europe must recognize Russia as “the only country willing to threaten us” and act decisively.
Analysts estimate Russia’s shadow fleet consists of 600–1,000 tankers disguised through foreign registration and complex ownership chains. These ships remain critical to Moscow’s ability to export oil despite international embargoes and price caps.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
