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Russia on Monday strongly criticised France for detaining the Russian-linked oil tanker Tagor in the Atlantic Ocean, calling the move illegal and warning that it would take measures to protect its maritime shipping operations.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow viewed the seizure as unlawful and described the action as bordering on "international terrorism". He added that Russia would continue efforts to ensure the safety of its cargo transport routes.
The comments came after France announced the detention of the Tagor, a tanker suspected of being part of Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" used to bypass Western sanctions imposed over the Ukraine conflict.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the vessel was intercepted in international waters in the Atlantic with assistance from Britain and other partners. The tanker had reportedly departed from Murmansk in northwestern Russia and was heading to Cameroon when it was stopped more than 400 nautical miles west of Brittany.
French authorities said the vessel was sailing under a suspected false Cameroonian flag and was escorted by the French Navy for further inspection.
The detention has prompted a criminal investigation in France. Prosecutors in Brest said the probe concerns the vessel's inability to prove its nationality, the absence of a valid flag and failure to comply with official orders. Authorities also alleged that the Russian captain refused instructions from the French Navy, making it necessary to take control of the tanker.
Macron defended the action, saying ships must not be allowed to evade international sanctions, violate maritime law or help finance Russia's military campaign in Ukraine.
The Tagor is already under EU and US sanctions, according to French maritime authorities, who said the vessel had repeatedly changed flags in a practice known as "flag-hopping". France has intercepted several suspected Russian-linked tankers in recent months as part of a broader Western effort to crack down on Moscow's sanctions-evasion network.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow viewed the seizure as unlawful and described the action as bordering on "international terrorism". He added that Russia would continue efforts to ensure the safety of its cargo transport routes.
The comments came after France announced the detention of the Tagor, a tanker suspected of being part of Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" used to bypass Western sanctions imposed over the Ukraine conflict.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the vessel was intercepted in international waters in the Atlantic with assistance from Britain and other partners. The tanker had reportedly departed from Murmansk in northwestern Russia and was heading to Cameroon when it was stopped more than 400 nautical miles west of Brittany.
French authorities said the vessel was sailing under a suspected false Cameroonian flag and was escorted by the French Navy for further inspection.
The detention has prompted a criminal investigation in France. Prosecutors in Brest said the probe concerns the vessel's inability to prove its nationality, the absence of a valid flag and failure to comply with official orders. Authorities also alleged that the Russian captain refused instructions from the French Navy, making it necessary to take control of the tanker.
Macron defended the action, saying ships must not be allowed to evade international sanctions, violate maritime law or help finance Russia's military campaign in Ukraine.
The Tagor is already under EU and US sanctions, according to French maritime authorities, who said the vessel had repeatedly changed flags in a practice known as "flag-hopping". France has intercepted several suspected Russian-linked tankers in recent months as part of a broader Western effort to crack down on Moscow's sanctions-evasion network.
