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French Forces Raid Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker in the Mediterranean - Video Footage Released

Published January 23, 2026, 18:11
French Forces Raid Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker in the Mediterranean - Video Footage Released

The French Navy has released video footage capturing the raid by French forces on the tanker “Grinch,” which belongs to the Russian shadow fleet in the Mediterranean. The operation took place in the Western Mediterranean, near the Strait of Gibraltar, with the aim of neutralizing potential threats related to the Russian naval presence in the area. Emmanuel Macron announced the seizure of the oil tanker yesterday, emphasizing that it is subject to international sanctions and is flying a false flag. Allied forces, including the United Kingdom, also participated in the operation, while French maritime authorities stated that the investigation of the ship confirmed doubts about the legality of its flag. The Russian embassy in Paris stated that it had not been informed about the seizure. The Grinch was traveling from the Arctic port of Murmansk in northern Russia, flying the flag of the Comoros, according to ship tracking websites.