France Seizes Russia-Linked Oil Tanker Tagor in Atlantic Over Suspected Sanctions Breach

French naval forces boarded the Madagascar-flagged oil tanker Tagor on Sunday in international waters more than 400 nautical miles west of Brittany, according to France’s Atlantic maritime prefecture. The operation involved commandos rappelling from a helicopter, with aerial intelligence and surveillance support provided by the United Kingdom but no Royal Navy warships participating.

An inspection team found irregularities with the vessel’s documentation, the prefecture stated. The tanker had sailed from Murmansk and was last tracked off Norway’s northern coast. It is affiliated with Fractal Marine DMCC, a Dubai-based operator of 28 tankers that was added to the UK sanctions list in February.

President Emmanuel Macron announced the boarding on Monday and shared video of the operation on X. He said the vessel is subject to sanctions imposed by the European Union, United Kingdom and United States, and described the action as carried out “in strict compliance with the law of the sea” with support from several partners including the UK.

The Tagor has been ordered to proceed to the French mainland under French direction.

” He stated that Moscow does not agree the operation complied with international law and that Russia would take measures to protect its shipping cargo. The Russian embassy in Paris confirmed it believes the captain is a Russian national and has requested information on any other Russian crew members aboard.

According to TASS, Moscow received no prior notification of France’s intention to board the vessel.