France boards tanker it says is linked to Russian shadow fleet in Mediterranean

A French Navy helicopter hovers over the Deyna vessel, which is supposed to be a member of the Russian shadow fleet, during an operation in the Western Mediterranean Sea, in this handout image obtained by Reuters on March 20, 2026. Prefecture maritime de la Mediterranee/Etat Major des Armees/Handout via REUTERS

PARIS, March 20 (Reuters) - The French Navy seized an oil tanker on Friday in the Western Mediterranean that President Emmanuel Macron ⁠said belonged to Russia's shadow fleet, a network of vessels that enables Moscow to export oil despite Western sanctions.

Local ‌officials told Reuters earlier on Friday that the navy had boarded a Mozambique-flagged oil tanker named Deyna that was suspected of flying a false flag. The ship had been sailing from the Russian port of Murmansk.