Paris: France has intercepted an oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea on suspicion of links to Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" used to finance the war in Ukraine, President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday.
Writing on X, Macron said the vessel was under international sanctions and suspected of sailing under a false flag.
He added that the tanker had been diverted with the support of several allies and that a judicial investigation had been opened.
The French navy said the operation was carried out in cooperation with allies, including the UK, in international waters between Spain and North Africa.
The tanker, named Greench, was traveling from the Arctic port of Murmansk.
Naval authorities said checks on the ship's documents raised doubts about the validity of the flag it was flying, prompting a referral to prosecutors in Marseille. The vessel is now being escorted to a port for further inspections.
