Archive · 23 Jan 2026
French Navy Intercepts Russian Tanker
The French Navy stopped a Russian ship called the GRINCH in the Mediterranean Sea on January 22, 2024.
This ship is part of a group called the shadow fleet, which helps Russia sell oil even though there are international sanctions against it.
The operation was supported by several of France's allies, including Britain, and followed international laws.
The French President, Emmanuel Macron, announced this on a social media platform called X. The goal was to make sure the sanctions are being followed and to stop Russia from using the ship to finance its war in Ukraine.
The ship was sailing from a place called Murmansk in northern Russia and is suspected of operating under a false flag.
The case was sent to a prosecutor in Marseille for further investigation.
The tanker has been diverted to the port of Marseille-Fos for further investigation.
The French Navy intercepted a sanctioned Russian tanker named GRINCH in the Western Mediterranean on January 22, 2024.
The operation was supported by several allies, including Britain, and conducted in compliance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The tanker is suspected to be part of the shadow fleet, which enables Russia to export oil despite international sanctions.
The ship was sailing from Murmansk in northern Russia and is subject to international sanctions, suspected of operating under a false flag.
The tanker has been diverted to the port of Marseille-Fos for further investigation.
- Who
- French Navy, with support from several allies, including Britain
- What
- Interception of a sanctioned Russian tanker named GRINCH, suspected to be part of the shadow fleet
- When
- January 22, 2024
- Where
- Western Mediterranean, between the southern coast of Spain and the northern coast of Morocco
- Why
- To enforce international sanctions and comply with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and to prevent the financing of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine
- Location
- Western Mediterranean, between southern Spain and northern Morocco
- Date
- January 22, 2024
- Initiator
- French Navy
- Support
- Several Allies, including Britain
- Legal Framework
- UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
- Tanker Name
- GRINCH
- Origin
- Murmansk, northern Russia
- Destination
- Marseille-Fos port
- Previous Incident
- France detained another sanctioned tanker, the Boracay, in October 2023
Sources
French navy intercepts sanctioned Russian tanker in Mediterranean, Macron says
France intercepts sanctioned Russian oil tanker flying false flag in Mediterranean
French navy intercepts sanctioned Russian tanker in Mediterranean
French navy intercepts Russian oil tanker in Mediterranean over shadow fleet links
France intercepts suspected Russian shadow fleet tanker in Mediterranean
French Navy Boards Tanker 'From Russia' In Mediterranean: Macron
UK’s Royal Navy tracks Russian vessels sailing through English Channel
French Navy diverts suspected Russian shadow fleet tanker ‘GRINCH’ to Marseille-Fos port