Macron flexes muscles over suspected ‘shadow fleet’ tanker; Putin calls raid ‘piracy’

The Boracay, a tanker under Western sanctions for suspected involvement in Russia’s “shadow fleet” and facing a separate French investigation, has set sail from its anchorage off western France on Friday (3 October), according to MarineTraffic data.

French Navy commandos raided the Boracay on Saturday off western France. The vessel was already under EU and UK sanctions for suspected involvement in Russian oil exports.

According to MarineTraffic data, the ship passed approximately 50 nautical miles (90 km) south of Copenhagen when drone activity forced the closure of the Danish capital’s airport last week and was later off Denmark’s western coast when drones were reported near several airports in the area.

Denmark has labelled the drone incursions a hybrid attack and suggested Russia may be responsible, though it has not definitively assigned blame. Moscow denies involvement.

It is unclear why the vessel, which was heading southwest through the Bay of Biscay at cruising speed early Friday, was allowed to depart after the French Navy commando raid over the weekend.

Neither local French maritime authorities nor the Brest prosecutor’s office, which is investigating the Benin-flagged vessel’s nationality, responded to requests for comment.

Before its detention, the Boracay was destined for India’s Vadinar port, home to a Nayara Energy refinery.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that the ship was detained as part of a European strategy to disrupt the oil revenue stream funding Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine.

To evade Western sanctions, Russia has increasingly relied on aging vessels, known as the shadow fleet, to transport its oil and gas.

Macron also said it remains unclear whether the vessel was involved in last week’s drone incursions in Denmark, which closed airports near the ship’s route from the Baltic to the North Sea.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called the French raid on the ship “piracy.” Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi on 2 October, he responded to a journalist’s question about the incident, saying:

“This is piracy. Yes, I’m aware of this case. The tanker was seized in international waters without justification. Apparently, they were looking for cargo – perhaps military equipment, drones, or something similar. There’s nothing of that sort there, never was, and never could be.”

Putin’s remarks suggest he may have knowledge of the tanker’s cargo, despite its supposed lack of connection to Russia.

He used the opportunity to criticize Macron’s domestic challenges.

“The tanker is indeed flying a third country’s flag, and the crew is international. Frankly, I don’t see – or rather, I don’t know- how much this is connected to Russia, but I know it’s happening. But what is this, really? Is it that important for France? It is. Why? Because of the difficult domestic political situation for France’s ruling elite, who have no other way to distract the public from the complex, intractable problems within the French Republic.”

In a lengthy speech at the Valdai forum, Putin blamed the West for escalating geopolitical tensions, nuclear risks, and the challenges of a multipolar world, positioning Russia as a key player in shaping the global landscape. He accused Europe of stoking “hysteria” to justify increased military spending, insisting Russia poses no threat.

He further accused NATO countries of directly engaging in the Ukraine conflict through intelligence sharing and weapons supplies, stating, “All NATO countries are fighting us, and they’re no longer hiding it.” Putin argued that Europe’s policy of “constant escalation” is primarily responsible for the failure to achieve peace in Ukraine.

Despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent criticisms, including calling Russia a “paper tiger,” Putin adopted a conciliatory tone toward his American counterpart. He praised Trump as “someone who can listen,” recalling discussions at the August Alaska summit about resolving the Ukraine conflict and restoring bilateral ties.

Sources: The Kremlin transcript of Putin’s words, Reuters

Caption: France’s President Emmanuel Macron speaks to the media as he arrives at Christiansborg Castle in Copenhagen, Denmark, 01 October 2025, for an informal meeting of EU heads of state and government. EPA/THOMAS TRAASDAHL