The French Navy intercepted the oil tanker DF Peak more than 450 nautical miles south of La Réunion. President Emmanuel Macron announced the operation on October 12, stating the vessel, which flies a Beninese flag but was formerly known as Kaliningrad and has been on the European Union sanctions list since June 2025, is suspected of navigating under a false flag and belonging to the Russian shadow fleet used to circumvent Western embargoes. French military authorities confirmed irregularities in the vessel's documentation and diverted it under escort. Macron emphasized that the boarding was conducted in accordance with international maritime law and reiterated France's commitment to combating illicit trafficking and shadow‑fleet activities worldwide.
The interception comes as US President Donald Trump announced the negotiation of large‑scale deliveries of Russian diesel to American and global markets, a move criticized by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and EU diplomatic chief Kaja Kallas, who argue that lifting sanctions on Russian diesel fuels the Kremlin’s war effort. The DF Peak is one of approximately 700 vessels currently listed by the EU for sanctions evasion.
The DF Peak is one of approximately 700 vessels currently listed by the EU for sanctions evasion.