The French navy’s seizure of an illegal oil tanker linked to Russia in the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday represents a new, more aggressive strategy from Europe cracking down on Moscow‘s “dark fleet.”
French authorities identified the tanker as the MT GRINCH, which had left from Murmansk, Russia, and was suspected of flying a false flag, one linked to the Comoro Islands, according to open-source intelligence. The U.S. Treasury Department added the vessel to its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List in January 2025, and it has since been sanctioned by the European Union, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Ukraine as well.
“We will not tolerate any violation,” French President Emmanuel Macron said in the announcement, adding that their navy had “support of several of our allies.”
The U.K. was among the countries that helped.
“Deterring, disrupting and degrading the Russian shadow fleet is a priority for this government,” member of Parliament and Defense Secretary John Healey said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “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.”
Russia has used an extensive fleet of old, outdated tankers — hundreds, if not more than a thousand — to try and skirt the western sanctions placed on them and international maritime law since beginning its war in Ukraine. Doing so comes with risks but allows Moscow to continue selling the oil that has allowed it to continue funding its military objectives.
A spokesperson for the U.K. Embassy in Washington told the Washington Examiner that they have sanctioned 544 shadow fleet vessels and that they’ve seen progress in stopping Russia’s oil sales, saying that Russia’s critical oil revenues are down 27% compared to October 2024, marking the lowest they’ve been since the start of the war.
Iran and Venezuela both participate in Russia’s shadow fleet, and they sell crude oil primarily to China and India.
These vessels will often try to spoof their tracking location data to make it appear as though they’re somewhere else and will turn off their automatic identification system in violation of International Maritime Organization requirements.
Margus Tsahkna, Estonia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, said, “Estonia supports decisive EU and NATO action to shut down the shadow fleet and close the taps funding Russia’s attempt to freeze Ukraine into submission.”
Thursday’s seizure could mark the beginning of a new chapter of more significant enforcement in Europe on the shadow fleet, following the United States, which began its own blockade of the shadow fleet near Venezuela.
U.S. forces have seized at least seven vessels since early December, all of which were transiting in violation of existing U.S. sanctions. The newfound U.S. blockade, which began as a part of Operation Southern Spear targeting drug cartels and smuggling into America, has taken one dark fleet participant largely off the board and given a road map for how Europe could use similar tactics.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed frustration on Thursday at the Davos World Economic Forum for Europe’s failure to act on the shadow fleet, unlike the U.S., and subsequently celebrated Macron’s announcement.
“Why can President Trump stop tankers from the shadow fleet and seize oil, but Europe doesn’t? Russian oil is being transported right along European shores,” the Ukrainian leader said. “That oil funds the war against Ukraine, that oil helps destabilize Europe. So Russian oil must be stopped and confiscated and sold for Europe’s benefit. Why not? If Putin has no money, there is no war for Europe. If Europe has money, then it can protect its people.”
Macron announced the oil tanker’s seizure as Zelensky gave his address, and shortly after, the Ukrainian leader praised his French counterpart.
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“This is exactly the kind of resolve needed to ensure that Russian oil no longer finances Russia’s war,” Zelensky said on X. “Russian tankers operating near European shores must be stopped. Sanctions against the entire infrastructure of the shadow fleet must be tough. Vessels must be apprehended. And wouldn’t it be fair to confiscate and sell the oil carried by these tankers?”
German media also reported that the country’s military blocked a suspected ghost fleet tanker, named the Tavian, from entering German waters in the Baltic Sea on Jan. 10, also demonstrating Europe’s strengthening resolve when it comes to enforcing sanctions on the shadow fleet.