The French Navy intercepted and searched a Russian oil tanker named Grinch in the Mediterranean Sea. President Emmanuel Macron said the ship was "subject to international sanctions and suspected of flying a false flag." The operation took place on the high seas with help from allies. The French maritime police said the tanker was found between Spain and Morocco before being diverted. After boarding, officials confirmed the ship's flag was irregular. It is now escorted by the navy for more checks. Russia has faced 19 EU sanction packages since its full invasion of Ukraine. Despite this, it continues to sell large amounts of oil to countries like India and China, often at discounted prices. The tanker Grinch is part of what is called the "shadow fleet," a group of hundreds of old tankers that change flags and identities to bypass sanctions. The tanker was sailing from Murmansk, Russia, under a Comoros flag. Analysis shows this shadow fleet includes over 1,400 tankers, with most under US, UK, or EU sanctions. These ships often lack proper insurance required by major oil companies. Russia’s embassy in France said it was not informed about the interception but was working to assist any Russian crew members. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the seizure, saying, "Vessels must be apprehended. And wouldn’t it be fair to confiscate and sell the oil carried by these ?" Macron called the shadow fleet activities a key part of funding Russia’s "war of aggression against Ukraine." Recent months have seen increased efforts by Western powers to crack down on such ships. For example, France detained another sanctioned tanker, Boracay, last October, linked to drone attacks in Denmark. Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the interception as "piracy." In the US, measures have included naval blockades and special forces boarding sanctioned tankers near Venezuela. In one case, the US Coast Guard stopped the Russian tanker Marinera between Iceland and Scotland earlier this month. Russia responded by sending naval escorts and a spy plane monitored the event. These tankers help Russia, Iran, and Venezuela avoid Western sanctions.