The French Ministry of Justice announced on July 2 that the tanker Tagor, detained by the French Navy for over a month on suspicion of irregular registration, has been permitted to leave French waters after its owner paid a fine of approximately US$1.1 million. This marks the fourth "shadow fleet" tanker to be released following detention since France launched its enforcement campaign in September 2025.

On May 31, the French Navy intercepted the tanker Tagor on the high seas of the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 400 nautical miles west of Brittany. French President Emmanuel Macron posted video footage to his X account the following day showing French commandos boarding the vessel from a helicopter. According to French authorities, the vessel had departed from Murmansk, Russia, and had previously claimed registration in Guinea, Madagascar, and Cameroon, but investigations found all three registrations to be invalid.

The captain of the Tagor, a Russian national, had reportedly faced charges carrying a maximum penalty of one year's imprisonment and a €150,000 fine. The captain was released following the detention.

The Tagor has been placed on sanctions lists by the European Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom—with the US imposing sanctions from July 2025, the EU from October 2025, and the UK from February 2026. Western governments allege that Russia relies on a so-called "shadow fleet" of ageing vessels to transport oil and gas in order to circumvent sanctions imposed on Moscow over the war in Ukraine.

This is the fourth suspected "shadow fleet" vessel intercepted by France since September 2025. Previously detained tankers include the Boracay in October 2025, the Grinch in January 2026, and the Deyna in March 2026. All four vessels were released after fines were paid.

Mr. Macron stated on X: "It is unacceptable that vessels circumvent international sanctions, violate maritime law, and finance Russia's war against Ukraine."

France is also continuing legal proceedings against another detained "shadow fleet" tanker, the Discover, which was intercepted last week. Since the beginning of 2026, nine suspected "shadow fleet" tankers have been detained across Europe.

Russia rejects the "shadow fleet" label, asserting that its oil shipments are lawful. Kremlin spokesman Peskov stated following the detention of the Tagor that Moscow considers the French seizure "illegal" and "akin to international piracy." The Russian Embassy in France stated that Paris had not notified Moscow of the operation in advance.

According to AIS data, the Tagor remains at anchor off the French coast and is expected to set sail shortly, with its next destination listed as Istanbul.