France halts Russian shadow-fleet tanker in Atlantic, Macron says

France’s navy, with allied support, intercepted the sanctioned Russian shadow fleet tanker Tagor in the Atlantic on May 31, 2026. The vessel, which departed Russia and was carrying Russian crude oil and petroleum products, is listed under EU, UK, and Ukraine sanctions. Macron condemned sanctions evasion that funds Russia’s war and highlighted that the interception targets a major sanctions-evasion network operating in international waters. The move signals one of the Western world’s most significant actions against the shadow fleet, which uses shell companies and flag changes to bypass restrictions, and follows earlier French interceptions in 2025–2026 that Ukraine welcomed.