Dramatic fresh footage captures the moment French commandos board a Russian oil tanker dubbed The Grinch.
Utilizing intelligence provided by British sources, the French navy recently intercepted an oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea as part of an operation aimed at curbing Vladimir Putin’s alleged sanctions-dodging ‘shadow fleet’.
Authorities revealed suspicions that the vessel was sailing under a false flag, prompting the French navy to accompany it for further scrutiny. The tanker reportedly set sail from Murmansk, a city in northwestern Russia, according to French maritime officials.
French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the success of the operation, mentioning, “The mission was carried out in the Mediterranean waters with support from our allies, in full accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. A judicial probe has been initiated, and the vessel has been redirected.”
Despite stringent international sanctions, continued oil profits have enabled Putin to channel substantial funds into the conflict in Ukraine and bolster Russia’s armament production.
In a unified effort, Britain, France, and other NATO members have pledged to combat the illicit shadow fleet, believed to comprise more than 400 ships. Additionally, they are working to secure agreements with countries under whose flags such vessels operate to facilitate boarding procedures.
This development follows recent collaborative actions between the UK and the US, including the seizure of the Russian-flagged tanker Marinera in the North Atlantic earlier this month. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has cautioned that the UK is prepared to take proactive measures to intercept stateless ships.
The video footage captures masked French commandos descending onto the deck of the Russian tanker via ropes, lowered from a military helicopter. The operation, conducted under night vision surveillance, was based on intelligence shared by British authorities.
Documents discovered onboard the vessel were meticulously examined as a French marine oversaw preparations for the vessel’s confiscation.