The French Navy intercepted and boarded the DF Peak tanker on Oct. 12, 2026, in the Indian Ocean, suspecting it of transporting sanctioned Russian fuel under a false flag. President Emmanuel Macron stated France is determined to combat the "ghost fleet" globally, upholding international law and combating illicit trafficking.
The incident highlights ongoing efforts by Western nations to enforce sanctions against Russia's oil exports and disrupt its ability to fund its war in Ukraine, while Russia denounces such actions as violations of international law.
The French Navy intercepted and boarded the DF Peak tanker in the Indian Ocean on suspicion of transporting sanctioned Russian fuel and operating as part of Russia's "shadow fleet." French President Emmanuel Macron announced the action on Monday, stating the vessel was found 450 nautical miles south of the French territory of Reunion.
Russia's embassy in France responded Tuesday, calling the seizure a "blatant violation of international law" and "piracy," according to state news agency RIA. The embassy also stated that France had not notified Russia about the seizure and that it was working to determine if any Russian citizens were among the ship's crew.
The DF Peak, previously known as Kaliningrad, is alleged to have been flying a false flag and is subject to sanctions from the U.S., EU, Switzerland, Canada, and Japan. The "shadow fleet" refers to older tankers used by Russia to circumvent international sanctions on its oil exports.
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