French authorities have released the tanker 'Grinch', suspected of belonging to Russia's shadow fleet, three weeks after its seizure in the Mediterranean Sea. The vessel left French territorial waters on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, after its owner paid a financial penalty amounting to several million euros. This operation is part of a tightened crackdown on the circumvention of sanctions imposed on Russian energy resources by the European Union.

Multi-million euro penalty for sanctions violation

The owner of the tanker Grinch was forced to pay a fine of several million euros for violating EU sanctions on Russian oil.

End of blockade in Fos-sur-Mer

After three weeks of forced detention in a port near Marseille, the vessel received permission to leave the territorial waters of France.

Fight against the Russian shadow fleet

Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced the end of impunity for ships transporting the Kremlin's energy resources off the coasts of Europe.

French forces, in cooperation with allies, seized the tanker Grinch at the end of January 2026 as it was navigating between Spain and Morocco. The ship, sailing under the flag of the Comoros, was directed to the port of Fos-sur-Mer near Marseille. As French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot informed, the forced stopover lasted three weeks and involved significant costs for the shipowner. The vessel was released only after the payment of a several million euro fine, sanctioned by a court in Marseille under a voluntary penalty procedure. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Western powers have systematically tightened the sanctions system, combating the so-called shadow fleet—older ships with unclear ownership structures that transport Russian oil above established price caps. The actions of the French administration are intended to be a clear signal to entities assisting Russia in financing its war efforts. The shadow fleet poses a serious challenge to maritime security and the Kremlin's global war economy. Minister Barrot emphasized on platform X that violating European restrictions has a tangible price and will no longer be tolerated off the coasts of France. The seizure of the Grinch confirms the effectiveness of monitoring conducted by services such as MarineTraffic or VesselFinder. „Russia will no longer be able to finance its war with impunity through the shadow fleet off our coasts.” — Jean-Noël Barrot Despite the ship's release, the case remains a precedent in the enforcement of maritime law against vessels circumventing embargoes. Experts indicate that such high fines may deter other carriers from participating in the illegal trade of raw materials with the Russian Federation. The French maritime prefecture announced further intensive patrols in the Mediterranean Sea to identify further violations. 3 tygodnie — duration of the ship's immobilization in port Liberal media emphasize the effectiveness of sanctions and European solidarity in cutting off Russia from sources of funding for aggression. | Conservative commentary focuses on the need for even harsher penalties and the physical blocking of the shadow fleet in NATO waters.

Mentioned People

  • Jean-Noël Barrot — French Minister of Foreign Affairs, who announced the imposition of the fine and the release of the ship.