France Detains Russian-Linked Tanker Amidst Shadow Fleet Crackdown

French law enforcement has detained two crew members of an oil tanker immobilized off the Atlantic coast, allegedly linked to Russia, as part of President Emmanuel Macron's efforts to curb Moscow's 'shadow fleet.' According to a French prosecutor, the detentions were due to non-cooperation and failure to justify the vessel's nationality.

Macron has accused these tankers, which circumvent Western sanctions linked to the Ukraine war, of supporting a significant portion of Russia's military financing. The French navy's actions, Macron claimed, aim to disrupt the fleet's operations by keeping the vessels in check and undermining their business model.

The ship, variously named 'Pushpa' and 'Boracay,' has been flying under a fake Benin flag, changing names, and was previously detained by Estonia. This tactic, Macron suggests, is employed to evade sanctions by exporting Russian oil through non-sanctioning countries.

(With inputs from agencies.)