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.
President Emmanuel Macron stated that the crew had committed 'serious offenses' at an EU leaders’ summit in Copenhagen on Wednesday but did not elaborate.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed Russia had no knowledge of the vessel.
AFP news agency quoted a source as saying French military personnel had boarded the vessel on Saturday. Macron refused to comment on whether the ship may have been used for the drone flights that caused disruption in Denmark last week.
Prosecutors in Brest have opened an investigation on charges of refusing to stop and failing to justify the nationality of the ship's flag.
Following Russia's invasion in 2022, many Western countries imposed sanctions on Russian energy, leading Moscow to establish a 'shadow fleet' of tankers whose ownership and movements could be camouflaged. It is estimated that this fleet comprises between 600 and 1,000 ships.
The Boracay, flagged under Benin but listed under UK and EU sanctions against Russia, had previously been detained by Estonian authorities for not displaying a valid national flag. The ship was initially heading to Vadinar in north-western India before altering its course toward the French coast.
As EU leaders gather under the increasing pressure to enhance European defense, the situation highlights the ongoing tensions in the region, particularly regarding Russian incursions in European airspace and the emergence of hybrid threats.
