French Navy Seizes Russian Oil Tanker Off Sicily in Anti-Sanctions Operation

The French navy seized the Russian oil tanker Delivr on Tuesday as it passed off the coast of Sicily, Italy, in what officials described as an operation against Russia’s so-called shadow fleet. The vessel was stopped in international waters, a move that raises legal questions under maritime law.

The action is part of a broader European effort to crack down on ships carrying Russian oil while evading sanctions imposed after the war in Ukraine. The shadow fleet is understood to include dozens of older tankers, many without proper insurance, that switch off location transmitters and transfer cargo at sea to hide their movements.

French President Emmanuel Macron defended the seizure, saying, “We will not allow the shadow fleet to bypass sanctions and finance the Russian war effort. Europe is determined and will continue all necessary efforts to increase the cost of the war for Russia and enable the arrival of a strong and lasting peace in Ukraine.” He added that France would keep tightening pressure on Moscow.

The French move came only days after a similar British operation against another Russian tanker, suggesting closer coordination among European states. EU officials say such actions are necessary to prevent sanctions evasion, while Moscow has previously condemned comparable steps as “naval piracy” and “international terrorism.”