France seized Russian sanctioned tanker using Ukrainian intelligence, Zelenskyy says
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (photo: Getty Images)
Last week, special forces detained a sanctioned Russian oil tanker off the coast of France. The operation was based on data from Ukrainian intelligence, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at a meeting with journalists on October 8, according to an RBC-Ukraine correspondent.
The head of state emphasized the importance of continuing work on sanctions and the Russian tanker fleet. Moreover, this concerns not only oil revenues.
"I specifically brought one example to show you. For instance, this special operation, where the French caught a tanker from the Russian shadow fleet. The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine provided information that a tanker named BORACAY had departed from Primorsk (a Russian port city on the Baltic Sea - ed.). The tanker was stopped," the president said.
He added that there were Russian special services on that tanker. Additionally, the captain was a Chinese citizen. Thus, according to Zelenskyy, this is how the shadow fleet operates.
"I think this is a common practice of Russia. The tanker was released after three days. The shadow fleet — this is how it works. It's not just that the tanker is stopped, checked, the captain is summoned to court and taken off the ship — it doesn't mean that the oil won't continue on its way afterward," the head of state emphasized.
Zelenskyy informed that, according to Ukraine, there are more than 500 such tankers. He emphasized that they must be completely halted, as this would have a significant impact on both energy trade and security in Europe.
"Because it is precisely such tankers that are among the platforms used by Russians to launch drones," Zelenskyy explained.
Detention of the tanker near France
On September 30, the media reported that a Russian oil tanker had been detained off the coast of France. In particular, it was suspected of being involved in Russia's shadow fleet and in launching drones that were spotted over Denmark.
Media reports stated that the vessel was under EU and UK sanctions and was sailing under the flag of Benin.
By October 2, it became known that French special forces had arrested the captain and his first officer.
