French soldiers boarded a Benin-flagged vessel suspected of belonging to Russia's shadow fleet. The incident occurred Wednesday afternoon according to reports from international media.
Journalists flying over the ship observed French military personnel patrolling the deck of the 244-meter vessel. The ship is currently under investigation by French authorities.
Maritime data analyzed from tracking services shows the aging oil tanker left India in August. It remained docked in Ust-Luga, Russia until September 18 before moving past Poland and Sweden.
The vessel was positioned off the coast of Denmark during recent drone alarm incidents about a week ago. This timing raises questions about potential surveillance activities in Nordic waters.
Russia has increasingly relied on shadow fleet operations to circumvent international sanctions. These operations often involve older vessels with questionable insurance and registration.
What does this boarding reveal about Western monitoring of Russian maritime activities? The coordinated response suggests heightened surveillance of suspicious ships in Nordic sea lanes.