Overview

• French navy commandos boarded and immobilized the EU‑blacklisted tanker Boracay off Saint‑Nazaire after the crew failed to verify the ship’s nationality, with a navy investigation finding it flew no flag.
• Prosecutors in Brest opened a case for refusal to cooperate and failure to justify nationality, and French personnel remain aboard as the vessel stays at anchor.
• The Chinese captain has been ordered to stand trial in February 2026, while the chief mate was released without charge.
• Ship‑tracking placed the tanker off Denmark from September 22 to 25 during drone sightings that closed airports, but authorities have not established a link.
• Macron called for European partners to detain shadow‑fleet vessels to undercut oil revenues he says fund up to 40% of Russia’s war effort, as Putin denounced the seizure as “piracy” and warned of a “significant” response.