France and UK Seize Sanctioned Russian Oil Tanker in Atlantic

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Monday that France and its partners, including the United Kingdom, have seized a Russian oil tanker in international waters. The vessel, identified as the Tagor, was stopped on Sunday morning. French television network France 24 reported that the tanker is accused of evading international sanctions.

Macron stated in a social media post that it is unacceptable for ships to bypass international sanctions, violate maritime laws, and contribute to financing the conflict Russia has waged against Ukraine for over four years. This action is the latest in a series of operations by France targeting Russian oil tankers.

Previously, in March, a French court had handed down a one-year prison sentence in absentia to the captain of a Russian-linked tanker, part of what is known as the shadow fleet. The captain was convicted for disregarding an order to stop the vessel. The tanker in question had been seized by the French Navy in September 2025 and subsequently released.