French navy boards Russia ‘shadow fleet’ ship, detains two • FRANCE 24 English

Part of the so-called shadow fleet involved in the Russian oil trade, this tanker hit by EU sanctions is now the subject of a French investigation. Known under various names like Barakai, Pushpa, and Pifos, the vessel has been anchored off France’s Atlantic coast for several days. The probe was launched over the crew’s failure to justify the nationality of the vessel and refusal to cooperate. While attending an EU summit on Wednesday, the French president praised prosecutor’s actions. There were some very serious mistakes made by this crew which justify the fact that the case is now being investigated. But this highlights the presence and reality of a phenomenon that we’ve been describing and denouncing for a long time. We have between 600 and a,000 ships operating this way, enabling Russian oil to be transported even when it’s banned. The European Union has slapped sanctions on hundreds of tankers used by Russia to circumvent oil export curbs imposed after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. According to Mron, the Shadow Fleet finances 40% of Moscow’s war effort. Despite its aims to the Russian economy, the EU still imports Russian-made crude, notably from India. Shipping data show Barakai left a Russian port on September 20th before navigating close to Denmark around the 23rd. The vessel’s path has aroused suspicions that it was involved in mystery drone flights that disrupted air traffic in Denmark between September 22nd and 28th. Mhau, however, stopped short of linking the tanker to the incursions, saying it wasn’t for him to do so. The same vessel was detained and then released by Estonia in April, at the time known by its previous name, Koala. Authorities said it wasn’t sailing under a flag, a violation of maritime law.

Two crew members of a Russian “shadow fleet” tanker seized off the French coast have been taken into custody. The tanker is suspected of being involved in drone overflights in Denmark, and the two detained crew members “presented themselves as the ship’s captain and his first mate”, he said. FRANCE 24’s Carys Garland reports.
#France #Russia #drones

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45 comments

  4. NATO knows where those drones came from. I'm certain they have decrypted radio communications of the dirty deed straight from the tanker, but they wont reveal it if they can find a way to detain the tanker for some other reason

  10. I don't understand. With satellite technology, they can track every ship that comes out of Russia. How are these ships able to avoid detection? Just search every ship coming out of Russia.

  18. The tanker was carrying oil for India which was sabotaged with drone excuse. After this hostile French act, India must resume oil trade with Iran to secure its energy requirements.

  29. The piracy continues.. don’t exist in international law the so called shadow fleet.. so it’s piracy i. International waters made by imperialism

  33. French gaslighting this was an illegal boarding in international waters. It's clear why and it has nothing to do with keeping Europe safe Russia needs to be kept busy while more illegal attacks are carried out in the Middle East Israel no doubt paid France very well for doing its bidding. Europe is trying to convince itself it can win a pointless war with Russia when they wake up to body bags maybe they'll have a reality check.

  35. France is better at arresting quiet crew members on a boat than criminal narco dealers selling drugs at the front door of elementary schools…

  43. France has once again proven that it has no intention of abiding by any international agreements. Every ship has a flag it flies under. Are those who talk about France defending "democracy" deliberately ignoring France's crimes in Africa and elsewhere? France must be punished as soon as possible – financially, territorially, and in human hours, repaying their plunder of other countries.

  44. The little man Macron thinks he is Napoleon.. He is illegally taking Russia tanker. He is absolutely mad.
    Russia will bomb France completely if they have too.

    He is a US poppet.

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