Overview

• French naval commandos boarded the 244‑meter Boracay off the Loire after the crew refused a police inspection, which authorities classify as part of Russia’s shadow fleet on the EU sanctions list.
• The Chinese captain was charged by the Brest prosecutor with failing to obey an official order and is due in court in February 2026.
• The first officer was released from custody, and the tanker’s immediate voyage status remains unclear.
• President Emmanuel Macron urged a coalition of European partners to detain shadow‑fleet ships for days or weeks to break their business model.
• Officials cite repeated flag and name changes and missing required tracking, and prosecutors have not confirmed any link to recent drones over Denmark as officers consider possible espionage or sabotage charges.