In brief
The French military has taken action against the oil tanker Boracay, thought to be part of Russia’s 'shadow fleet' that circumvents international sanctions. Reforms imposed on Russia due to its war with Ukraine have spurred heightened scrutiny over maritime activities, particularly vessels like Boracay. The investigation raises questions surrounding disruptions caused by unidentified drones in Danish airspace. This incident is emblematic of broader international tensions and highlights the complexities of maritime law and sanctions enforcement.
French soldiers have boarded an oil tanker believed to be part of Russia's 'shadow fleet', used to evade sanctions imposed because of the war in Ukraine.The Boracay left Russia last month and was off the coast of Denmark when unidentified drones forced the temporary closure of several airports last week. It has been anchored off western France for a few days.French President Emmanuel Macron stated at an EU leaders' summit in Copenhagen that the crew had committed 'serious offences', but he did not elaborate.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed Russia had no knowledge of the vessel.News agency AFP reported that French military personnel had boarded the vessel on Saturday. Macron declined to comment on whether the ship may have been used as a platform for the disruptive drone flights in Denmark.Prosecutors in Brest have initiated an investigation for two counts: refusing an order to stop and failing to establish the nationality of the ship's flag. Many Western nations have imposed sanctions on Russian energy by limiting imports and capping the price of its oil following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.To evade these sanctions, Moscow has developed what is referred to as a 'shadow fleet' of tankers whose ownership and movements can be obscured. Russia is believed to possess several hundred tankers registered in other countries, utilized to export its oil. Macron suggested that this shadow fleet contains between 600 and 1,000 ships.The Boracay, also known as Pushpa and Kiwala, is a Benin-flagged vessel found on UK and EU sanctions lists against Russia. It was previously detained by Estonian authorities for sailing without a valid country flag.Having departed from the Russian port of Primorsk, the tanker sailed through the Baltic Sea and past Denmark before entering the North Sea and heading towards the English Channel. Initially scheduled to reach Vadinar in India on October 20, French warships followed it after it rounded the Brittany coast, eventually leading it towards the French coast.EU leaders are under pressure to enhance European defense following Russian incursions into EU airspace and drone disturbances at Danish airports. Danish authorities have yet to find evidence tying Russia to these drone disruptions, although the Prime Minister linked incidents to broader hybrid attacks related to Russia's actions.This situation underscores acute tensions, especially for Eastern European countries facing direct threats from Russian military activities.
