France Detains Tanker Vessel; Russia Accuses International Piracy
Moscow has condemned the detention of the tanker Tagor by French authorities in the Atlantic Ocean, labelling the action illegal and nearly equivalent to international piracy.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Monday (1 June 2026) that Russia rejected French accusations that the tanker had sailed from Murmansk, Russia, under a false flag.
“We regard this action as illegal; it is essentially an act of international piracy. We completely reject claims that this action was carried out in full compliance with international law,” Peskov said.
The French government previously announced that its military had detained the tanker Tagor in the Atlantic Ocean on Monday following suspicions that the vessel was using invalid flag credentials.
Meanwhile, the Russian Embassy in Paris stated it had requested official information from French authorities regarding the possible presence of Russian nationals aboard the detained vessel. However, France’s Foreign Ministry has yet to respond.
Based on initial information obtained by Russia, the tanker’s captain is understood to be a Russian national.
Peskov affirmed that the Russian government would continue taking necessary measures to ensure the safety of its maritime cargo shipments. He stated that the ship detention incident sets a negative precedent for international maritime security.
Why Did France Detain the Tagor Tanker?
French authorities stated that the tanker’s detention was due to suspected violations relating to the vessel’s maritime identification. According to French authorities, the ship was suspected of operating under a mismatched or false flag.
Tagor departed from Murmansk, Russia’s principal Arctic port and a major centre for the country’s energy exports. The suspected use of invalid flag identification prompted an inspection by French maritime authorities before the French Navy ultimately detained the vessel in the Atlantic Ocean.
In international maritime practice, every ship must be registered with a state and is authorised to fly that state’s flag as a legal identity marker. A ship’s flag status is crucial because it determines jurisdiction, safety standards, and compliance with various international provisions.