French Navy intercepts Russian tanker Tagor

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the French Navy intercepted the tanker Tagor, suspected of bypassing European sanctions and carrying a fraudulent flag. The vessel, which departed from Murmansk and was en route to Limbe, Cameroon, was seized more than 400 nautical miles off the coast of Brittany. French authorities conducted the operation with support from the United Kingdom, citing violations of international maritime law and efforts to combat the Russian 'shadow fleet'. This marks the fourth such interception by France since September 2025. President Macron stated that these actions are necessary to stop the financing of the war in Ukraine and address safety risks. Conversely, the Kremlin, through spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, condemned the seizure as an action bordering on piracy and stated that Russia is taking measures to ensure the security of its vessels. The captain of the vessel reportedly refused to comply with the boarding, which was executed under the provisions of the Montego Bay Convention.