- France announced on Thursday that its navy intercepted a Russian 'shadow fleet' oil tanker near the coast of Sicily.
- President Emmanuel Macron stated the interception occurred on Tuesday and accused Russia of using the vessel to bypass Western sanctions.
- Macron emphasised that this action, following a similar British operation, demonstrates European resolve against Russia's war financing.
- This marks at least the fifth such interception by France of old vessels used by Russia to ship oil and gas and circumvent sanctions.
- Moscow has consistently labelled these interceptions as illegal.
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