Overview

• French forces boarded the sanctioned tanker off Saint-Nazaire on October 1, detaining two crew members before releasing the first mate and proceeding only against the captain.
• The Brest prosecutor cited failure to produce valid flag documents and refusal to cooperate, with the ship remaining anchored during the investigation.
• Boracay, also known as Pushpa and formerly Kiwala, appears on EU and UK sanctions lists for transporting Russian crude and is described in reports as part of a Russian-linked ‘shadow fleet.’
• President Emmanuel Macron said EU chiefs of staff will meet with NATO representatives in the coming weeks to develop measures targeting the ‘shadow fleet.’
• President Vladimir Putin condemned the operation as “piracy” and said he did not know how closely the vessel is connected to Russia.