France detains Russian shadow fleet tanker under EU and UK sanctions
In France, a Russian shadow fleet tanker under sanctions was detained (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
The French authorities are investigating a suspected violation by the oil tanker Boracay sailing under the flag of Benin. The vessel is under European Union and United Kingdom sanctions imposed against Russia, the French Navy reported, according to Reuters.
The French Navy stated that, after suspected violations involving the vessel Boracay, a report was submitted to the prosecutor's office in Brest, and an investigation is underway.
The crude oil tanker is currently anchored off the Atlantic coast of western France, near Saint-Nazaire.
The United Kingdom and the European Union imposed separate sanctions on the tanker in October 2024 and February 2025.
The EU stated that the vessel was involved in transporting Russian oil and petroleum products "while practising irregular and high-risk shipping practices."
The UK stated that the vessel was "involved in activity whose object or effect is to destabilize Ukraine … or to obtain a benefit from or support the government of Russia" in the transport of oil or petroleum products of Russian origin from Russia to a third country.
It is noted that the vessel, which changed its name to Boracay in December 2024 — or to Pushpa in some shipping databases — was previously named Kiwala. Ships retain the same IMO identification number throughout their lifetime but may change names.
The shadow fleet of Russia
One in six tankers in the world belongs to the shadow fleet of the aggressor country. Overall, this accounts for approximately 17% of the world's active tankers.
At the beginning of this year, analysts counted 940 vessels that were part of Russia's shadow fleet. This figure is 45% higher than last year's.
More than 500 tankers of the shadow fleet are on the European Union's blocklists, so ports will not accept them, and insurers will not provide coverage. However, Russia continues to purchase vessels to replace sanctioned tankers.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported that currently, the aggressor country's shadow fleet numbers up to 1,000 vessels with a total deadweight of over 100 million tons. Most of them are old and inexpensive tankers used to export oil and petroleum products.
On September 19, the European Commission presented the 19th sanctions package against Russia, which includes additional measures targeting the Russian shadow fleet.
