Off the windswept coast of Saint-Nazaire in western France, a drama has been unfolding that feels straight out of a modern-day spy novel. An oil tanker, known alternately as "Pushpa," "Boracay," and previously "Kiwala," has been immobilized by French naval forces and now sits at anchor, its crew under intense scrutiny. The vessel’s saga, which began when it left the Russian oil terminal in Primorsk near Saint Petersburg on September 20, 2025, has quickly become a flashpoint in the ongoing efforts to enforce Western sanctions against Russia.
According to AP and France 24, this seemingly unremarkable tanker is far from ordinary. It’s been linked to Russia’s so-called "shadow fleet"—a clandestine armada of aging oil tankers that, according to French President Emmanuel Macron, plays a pivotal role in helping Moscow skirt Western sanctions imposed after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The shadow fleet, Macron explained, represents "tens of billions of euros for Russia’s budget and finances an estimated 40% of Russia’s war effort." He added, "Between 600 and 1,000 ships are transporting Russian oil and gas despite Western sanctions."
The story took a dramatic turn last week when the tanker, flagged under Benin and blacklisted by the European Union, was spotted sailing off the coast of Denmark. European naval experts cited the vessel as possibly being involved in a series of mysterious drone flights that disrupted air traffic in Denmark during September. The Maritime Executive, a specialist publication, suggested that the tanker and similar ships could have served as launch platforms or decoys for the drones. However, when pressed about these claims, President Macron was careful not to jump to conclusions, stating, "I would remain very careful," and emphasizing that it was not his place to establish a direct link between the Boracay and the drone incidents.
Nevertheless, the French authorities treated the situation with utmost seriousness. French naval forces forcibly boarded the ship a few days ago at the request of prosecutors who suspected wrongdoing. The Brest prosecutor’s office subsequently opened a judicial investigation into the crew’s "refusal to cooperate" and "failure to justify the nationality of the vessel." The ship was ordered to remain in place pending further investigation. As the days passed, French naval forces boarded the ship again on October 1, 2025, this time to provide much-needed food and fuel to the crew, according to a military official who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing investigation.
On the same day, two crew members—who identified themselves as the ship’s captain and first mate—were detained by French authorities. Brest prosecutor Stéphane Kellenberger confirmed their arrest, stating that the preliminary investigation was focused on "failure to provide proof of the vessel’s nationality" and "refusal to comply" with instructions. These offenses carry a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a €150,000 (approximately $175,000) fine. Kellenberger told AFP, "There were some very serious offences committed by this crew, which justify the current judicial procedure."
Macron, speaking on the sidelines of a summit of European Union leaders in Copenhagen, didn’t mince words about the gravity of the situation. "I think it’s a good thing that this work has been done and that we’ve been able to stop it," he said, adding, "There were some very serious wrongdoings made by this crew, which is why there are legal proceedings in the case." While he stopped short of confirming the tanker’s involvement in the Danish drone incidents, he emphasized the broader significance of the operation: "The incident highlights the existence and the reality of a phenomenon that we have been describing and denouncing for a long time—that is, the notorious shadow fleet."
The shadow fleet, as described by both French officials and international observers, is made up of hundreds of tankers—often purchased used by opaque entities registered in countries not participating in sanctions against Russia. These ships typically sail under flags of convenience, such as Benin, and are tasked with helping Russian oil exporters evade the price cap imposed by Ukraine’s Western allies. The Boracay, built in 2007 and having undergone multiple name changes, fits this profile perfectly. It was blacklisted by the European Union in February 2025 under the name "Kiwala." The vessel was reportedly en route to Vadinar in northwestern India, with an expected arrival date of October 20, 2025, according to the Marine Traffic tracking website.
French authorities have not been alone in their concerns. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, while declining to comment on the specifics of the investigation or the alleged drone connection, acknowledged the broader challenge posed by the shadow fleet. "We are facing a lot of problems with the shadow fleet. And that has been the case, especially in the Baltic Sea for quite a long time. And we are working very closely together to battle this situation," she said, as reported by AP.
The Russian Embassy in Paris has so far declined to comment on the incident. The silence from Moscow only adds to the intrigue, as European authorities continue to probe the ship’s activities and its possible links to the broader network facilitating Russian oil exports in defiance of international sanctions.
The operation off Saint-Nazaire underscores the growing determination among European nations to clamp down on sanction-busting activities that undermine efforts to financially isolate Russia. The EU has sanctioned hundreds of aging tankers believed to be part of the shadow fleet, aiming to choke off revenue streams that could be fueling the conflict in Ukraine. The Boracay’s seizure is a clear signal that France, at least, is prepared to act decisively when it comes to enforcing these measures.
As the investigation continues, the fate of the Boracay and its crew remains uncertain. Legal proceedings are underway, and the vessel’s future—along with the broader shadow fleet it represents—hangs in the balance. For now, the ship sits quietly off the coast of France, a potent symbol of the high-stakes cat-and-mouse game being played out on the world’s oceans as global powers vie to enforce, or evade, the rules of a new geopolitical order.
This episode serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and challenges inherent in sanction enforcement. With hundreds of ships still at sea, and billions of euros at stake, the shadow fleet remains a formidable obstacle for Western authorities. But as the Boracay’s story demonstrates, the resolve to confront it is only growing stronger.
