France seized sanctioned Russian oil tanker with UK help, Macron says

A British helicopter provided support during the operation on Sunday, the UK ministry of defence says. France intercepts sanctioned Russian oil tanker with UK help, Macron says Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. French Navy personnel observe a tanker said to be part of Russia's so-called shadow fleet A French Navy officer wearing a black uniform labelled Marine Nationale observes an alleged Russian oil tanker sailing in the Atlantic ocean. France seized sanctioned Russian oil tanker with UK help, Macron says France intercepted a sanctioned oil tanker suspected of being part of Russia's so-called shadow fleet on Sunday with UK support, French President Emmanuel Macron has said. Officers boarded the Tagor in the Atlantic, which maritime authorities said had been flying a false flag when it was detained around 400 nautical miles west of Brittany. "It is unacceptable for ships to circumvent international sanctions, violate the law of the sea, and fund the war that Russia has been waging against Ukraine," Macron wrote on X. A British helicopter provided support during the operation, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) told the BBC. The Kremlin said the "illegal" seizure was "bordering on international piracy". "Russia is taking measures to ensure the safety of its cargo," said spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Moscow has been operating a "shadow fleet" of tankers with obscure ownership structures to evade international sanctions imposed on its oil exports since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It is the fourth ship suspected shadow fleet vessel that France has boarded since September 2025. Macron said the operation, which took place in international waters, had been undertaken with allies including the UK "in strict compliance with the law of the sea". An MoD spokesperson said a helicopter which had been on board HMS Somerset provided "tracking and monitoring in support of the French operation". "Alongside our allies, we are stepping up our response to shadow vessels – to choke off the funds that fuel Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine." An image of the operation released by French authorities An image from on board a French navy helicopter as it approaches an oil tanker said to be part of Russia's shadow fleet. A navy officer can be seen wearing a camouflage military helmet. "These vessels, which fail to adhere to the most basic rules of maritime navigation, also pose a threat to the environment and to everyone's safety," he said. In a video shared by the French president, armed naval officers could be seen boarding the tanker via a helicopter. The BBC has not verified the footage. Previously, French authorities had allowed these ships to continue operating after .their owners paid fines but have since vowed to block them. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced in March he similarly had granted permission for the UK military to board sanctioned Russian ships. But almost 200 Russian "shadow fleet" vessels had entered UK waters as of 11 May since the prime minister threatened to intercept them in mid-March, BBC Verify analysis suggests. almost 200 Russian "shadow fleet" vessels had entered UK waters as of 11 May since the prime minister threatened to intercept them in mid-March, BBC Verify analysis suggests. The MoD said at the time it was "disrupting and deterring" shadow fleet vessels, without providing specific details. The shadow fleet ship Marinera seen in the distance from the upper decks of a US coastguard cutter following her. UK now 'ready' to seize Russian shadow fleet ships, Healey says Montage image showing the silhouette of the Panamanian-flagged crude oil tanker Nord Star The ghost ships in the English Channel and the question of what to do about them Tomi Reichental, who lost 35 close family members in the Holocaust, moved to the Republic of Ireland in 1959. Russian drones are targeting public buses in Kherson, killing three transport workers so far this year. "Timmy" was found dead off the coast of Anholt despite multiple attempts to rescue it. Motoring group RAC warns pump prices could keep rising if there is no resolution to the Iran war. Nearly 800 people were arrested after clashes with police following the Champions League final. Nearly 800 people were arrested after clashes with police which saw 219 people injured, including 57 police officers. Thousands of officers tried to quell unrest as crowds of fans - some firing flares - celebrated PSG's victory over Arsenal. From enigmatic KGB agent to wartime ruler, this is how Putin has repeatedly reinvented his image, and himself.