The French navy intercepted a tanker suspected of being part of Russia's "phantom fleet" in the western Mediterranean.

The French navy intercepted the oil tanker Deyna on Friday, which was flying the flag of Mozambique and was coming from Murmansk, Russia, in the western Mediterranean Sea. Authorities suspect that the ship is part of Russia's phantom fleet, which allows Moscow to circumvent international sanctions imposed following the conflict in Ukraine.

A control operation confirmed the suspicions, and the prosecutor of the Republic of Marseille has been notified. Deyna will be escorted to anchorage for further checks.

This is the third interception of a tanker from the phantom fleet by France. President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the seizure of the ship, emphasizing that France will not withdraw its support for Ukraine and that ships evading international sanctions are war profiteers.