French Troops Arrest Russian Shadow Fleet Officers Aboard Sanctioned Tanker

French authorities have apprehended the captain and first officer of the Russian-sanctioned oil tanker Boracay, suspected of being part of Russia's 'shadow fleet' used to evade sanctions related to the Ukraine war. The French Navy commandos boarded the Benin-flagged vessel, which had departed from the Russian port of Primorsk and was anchored off the western coast of France near Saint Nazaire. French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the crew committed 'serious offences', though he did not specify details or confirm a direct link to recent drone disruptions in Danish airspace, which occurred near the time and route of the tanker. Investigations have been launched on charges including refusal to comply with orders and failure to justify the ship's nationality. The Boracay has been blacklisted by the EU and UK and was previously detained for sailing without a valid flag. Russia has denied knowledge of the vessel, which is part of a reportedly large fleet of tankers used to circumvent Western sanctions on Russian oil exports.