- France has seized the tanker, now named DF Peak, which is at least the fifth Russian-linked tanker seized since 2024.
- Russia has decried the seizure, labeling it as 'piracy'.
- The vessel has been hit by US, UK and EU sanctions in 2024.
- The vessel was partially loaded and last seen off the coast of Madagascar on October 12 at 0429 GMT with its previous port listed as Guanta in Venezuela, according to LSEG ship tracking data.
- French army spokesperson Colonel Xavier Rival stated that doubts about the vessel's flag led to an inspection, and the vessel is proceeding to Reunion Island by decision of the public prosecutor.
France's military seized the DF Peak, a tanker suspected of evading Western sanctions, on October 13, 2024. This marks the fifth Russian-linked vessel taken by France since 2024, with Moscow denouncing the action as 'piracy' and a violation of international law.123
French army spokesperson Colonel Xavier Rival stated, "We had doubts regarding the flag under which this vessel was sailing, so we carried out an inspection." The vessel, previously named the Kaliningrad and flagged from Benin, was intercepted approximately 450 nautical miles south of Reunion Island, a French territory in the Indian Ocean. President Emmanuel Macron shared images of the military operation on social media, emphasizing France's commitment to combatting the 'shadow fleet' involved in illicit fuel transportation.56
The DF Peak was partially loaded and last tracked off the coast of Madagascar on October 12, with its previous port listed as Guanta in Venezuela. It has been subjected to sanctions from the US, UK, and EU in 2024. Russia has increasingly relied on such tankers, which often lack proper insurance and safety certifications, to navigate around sanctions by using false flags to obscure their ownership and cargo.4
As tensions rise, the French government remains vigilant in its efforts to enforce sanctions and monitor maritime activities linked to Russia.
“French army spokesperson Colonel Xavier Rival said doubts about the vessel's flag led to an inspection, and it is proceeding to Reunion Island by decision of the public prosecutor. The DF Peak, previously named Kaliningrad and flagged from Benin, was hit by US, UK and EU sanctions in 2024 and last seen off Madagascar on October 12.”
