Macron announces interception of Russian shadow fleet tanker off coast of Sicily: Footage
Photo: tanker Deliver, Russia’s shadow fleet (war-sanctions.gur.gov.ua)
European countries are stepping up pressure on Russia’s shadow fleet, which is attempting to circumvent international restrictions. French military forces have detained another violating vessel in the Mediterranean Sea, states French President Emmanuel Macron on Twitter (X), data from the sanctions database of the Defense Intelligence of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense (War & Sanctions portal), and comments to journalists by Vladyslav Vlasyuk, the Ukrainian President’s Commissioner for Sanctions Policy.
Details of the special operation
French naval forces boarded the oil tanker Deliver while it was transiting off the coast of Sicily.
According to the French leader, the vessel was operating in violation of maritime law.
The operation took place just days after similar decisive actions by the United Kingdom.
As Macron emphasized, these steps clearly demonstrate the unified position of European states.
La Marine Nationale a arraisonné mardi le pétrolier Deliver alors qu’il transitait au large de la Sicile en infraction avec le droit de la mer.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 25, 2026
Cette nouvelle action contre la flotte fantôme, conduite quelques jours après une opération similaire par le Royaume-Uni… pic.twitter.com/5Gjn43MhLr
Fighting the financing of the war
Paris and its allies are determined to completely cut off illegal channels of enrichment for the Kremlin.
"We will not allow the shadow fleet to bypass sanctions and finance Russia’s military efforts. Europe is firmly committed," said Emmanuel Macron.
He also added that the European community will make every necessary effort to increase the cost of the war for Russia and ensure the establishment of a strong and lasting peace in Ukraine.
What is known about the tanker and restrictions
According to the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the vessel, sailing under the flag of Cameroon, is involved in exporting Russian oil products mainly to China and India. To conceal illegal routes, the crew regularly turns off its Automatic Identification System (AIS).
Due to irregular shipping practices and poor condition, environmental organization Greenpeace classified Deliver as part of Russia’s shadow fleet, which poses a threat to the environment.
An international coalition began actively blocking the vessel’s operations in early 2025. The first sanctions were imposed by the European Union and Switzerland, later joined by the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
Ukraine added the tanker to its blacklist in December 2025 and, in February 2026, imposed personal sanctions on its Chinese captains, Rong Bo and Zheng Yendian.
Despite the pressure, Deliver continues to call at Russian ports Novorossiysk and Ust-Luga. The vessel currently provides logistics between Russia and terminals in Türkiye, China, Egypt, and India.
Allies are increasing pressure
As noted by Vladyslav Vlasyuk, this is already the fourth vessel of Russia’s shadow fleet intercepted by France since the beginning of the year, following the detentions of Deyna, Grinch, and Tagor. This systematic campaign by European allies is aimed at blocking companies and ships that help Russia bypass international restrictions.
Ukraine, together with its partners, is currently working to ensure that the detention of Deliver is as long as possible, and in the long term, that the vessel is no longer used for transporting Russian oil.
"Strengthening control over vessels, their owners, managers, and crews remains one of the key directions of sanctions policy," Vlasyuk emphasized.
More radical steps against Russia’s shadow fleet
Lawmakers in Germany and France have previously called for strict inspections and the detention of Russian vessels that help Moscow bypass oil restrictions and finance its war against Ukraine.
MPs stressed that Russia’s aging shadow fleet poses a significant risk to security and the environment and could also be used by the Kremlin for espionage or sabotage.
In addition, in early June, the EU authorized stopping shadow fleet vessels by force in the Mediterranean Sea as part of the naval operation IRINI. Naval forces of EU member states were given legal authority to board suspicious ships for physical inspections.
In response to such measures, Russia has reportedly proposed radical ways to "save" sanctioned ships. In particular, some Russian officials have suggested blowing up their own tankers at sea if foreign states attempt to seize them.
Russian senator Dmitry Rogozin even proposed mining civilian vessels, using the threat of a large-scale environmental disaster near European shores to deter ship seizures.
