The captain of an oil tanker, allegedly part of Russia’s so-called "shadow fleet," is set to stand trial in France next February, following a dramatic series of events that have drawn in leaders from Paris to Moscow and reignited debate about the effectiveness of Western sanctions on Russian oil exports. The vessel, currently immobilized off France’s Atlantic coast near Saint-Nazaire, has become a focal point in a larger struggle between European authorities and Russian efforts to bypass sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine.
According to reports from AP and other European outlets, the French navy boarded the tanker—now known as "Boracay" but previously sailing under names like "Kiwala" and "Pushpa"—over the weekend of September 27-28, 2025. The operation was triggered by suspicions about the ship’s nationality, as it was flying no flag and its ownership structure was murky. The vessel had departed Russia’s Primorsk oil terminal near St. Petersburg on September 20, destined for India, and had skirted the coast of Denmark before arriving in French waters.
French President Emmanuel Macron wasted no time in linking the tanker to Russia’s shadow fleet, a term used to describe a network of aging, often poorly maintained tankers operated by opaque entities. These ships are widely believed to be instrumental in helping Russia skirt the price caps and export restrictions set by Ukraine’s allies. Macron, speaking at a European defense summit in Copenhagen, stated, "You kill the business model by detaining even for days or weeks these vessels and forcing them to organize themselves differently." He added, "30 to 40% of Russia’s war effort is financed through the revenues of the shadow fleet. It represents more than 30 billion euros. So it’s extremely important to increase the pressure on this shadow fleet, because it will clearly reduce the capacity to finance this war effort for Russia."
The French navy’s intervention was not without drama. Macron described "inappropriate and extremely aggressive behavior" toward the French frigate and helicopters deployed to board the tanker, which he said justified the opening of a judicial investigation. The ship was ordered to remain stationary in a safe area, and French authorities promptly launched a preliminary investigation into the crew’s "refusal to cooperate" and "failure to justify the nationality of the vessel."
Stéphane Kellenberger, the prosecutor in the western port city of Brest, explained that two Chinese crew members—the captain and the chief mate—were detained by French authorities on September 30. The chief mate was released without charge, while the captain now faces trial on February 23, 2026, in Brest. The charges center on his alleged failure to justify the vessel’s nationality, an offense that carries a potential penalty of up to one year in prison and a 150,000-euro ($176,000) fine. Kellenberger clarified that the captain could not be held directly responsible for the crew’s refusal to cooperate, but the investigation into the ship’s nationality was ongoing.
The story of the Boracay does not begin in French waters. Earlier in 2025, the vessel—then named "Kiwala"—was detained by Estonian authorities outside Tallinn Bay over similar concerns about its flag status. Estonian public broadcaster EE reported at the time that the ship was stopped en route to the Russian port of Ust-Luga, and Prime Minister Kristen Michal posted on social media that Estonia’s navy had "detained a sanctioned vessel with no flag state." The ship’s frequent name changes and shifting registrations are characteristic of vessels in the shadow fleet, which often operate under flags of convenience from countries that have not sanctioned Russia.
As for potential links to other illicit activities, Macron did not rule out the possibility that the Boracay might have been involved in drone flights over Denmark as it sailed past the Nordic country in late September. However, he cautioned, "I’m very cautious because our services and our justice are still working ... I don’t exclude it at all, but I cannot here attribute very clearly and establish a clear link between these two phenomenon." European naval experts have also suggested the ship’s possible involvement in drone incursions into Danish airspace, though no definitive evidence has yet been made public.
The Russian response has been predictably fierce. President Vladimir Putin denounced the French action as "piracy" and accused Macron of orchestrating the move to distract from France’s domestic challenges. "There is no other way to deflect attention of the population, citizens of France from difficult internal problems that are hard to solve," Putin said at a foreign policy forum in Sochi. He further warned, "It’s piracy, and how do you deal with pirates? You destroy them. It doesn’t mean that tomorrow a war will erupt all across the global ocean, but certainly the risk of confrontation will seriously increase." Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed to have "no information" on the vessel but accused many countries of carrying out "provocative actions" against Russia.
Colonel Guillaume Vernet, a spokesperson for the French military, confirmed that the tanker was ordered to stay in a secure area off Saint-Nazaire and that the boarding operation was conducted in accordance with international law due to the discrepancies between the ship’s apparent and real nationality. The ship, which was reportedly carrying a large oil shipment from Russia to India, was sailing under the flag of Benin and appears on a list of vessels targeted by European Union sanctions against Russia.
The broader context here is the ongoing effort by Western nations to choke off the financial lifelines fueling Russia’s war in Ukraine. The shadow fleet, made up of aging tankers often bought by shell companies in non-sanctioning countries, plays a pivotal role in helping Russian oil exporters evade price caps and export bans. By detaining these vessels, European authorities hope to disrupt this shadowy network and make it harder for Russia to fund its military operations.
Yet, the episode also highlights the difficulties inherent in enforcing sanctions on a global scale. The shadow fleet’s ships are adept at changing names, flags, and ownership on short notice, making them elusive targets for regulators and law enforcement. The Boracay’s journey—from Russia to Estonia, Denmark, and now France—illustrates just how porous the international maritime system can be when determined actors seek to evade oversight.
As the captain awaits trial in Brest next February, the world will be watching to see whether this high-profile case sets a precedent for future crackdowns on Russia’s shadow fleet. For now, the immobilized tanker off Saint-Nazaire stands as a symbol of the cat-and-mouse game between European authorities and those determined to keep Russian oil flowing, sanctions or no sanctions.
