French Forces Raid Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker in North Sea

French and Belgian forces conducted an operation to intercept a tanker allegedly belonging to Russia's 'shadow fleet' in the North Sea. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the French Navy assisted Belgian forces in boarding the tanker, which is under international sanctions.

Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prévot confirmed the interception and stated that the ship would be seized upon arrival at the port of Zeebrugge. Defense Minister Theo Francken clarified that the tanker is being escorted to the port.

Russia has been using a 'shadow fleet' to circumvent restrictions on oil exports following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The European Union has blacklisted hundreds of ships to weaken Moscow's ability to finance the war. Prévot stated that the sanctions were enforced and implied that the ship was sailing under a false flag.