Overview

• The Boracay, an EU‑blacklisted tanker tied to Russia’s shadow fleet, restarted its journey toward the Suez Canal with its captain and first mate back on board, vessel trackers and a source close to the case said Friday.
• French prosecutors opened a judicial probe for failure to justify the ship’s nationality and refusal to cooperate, and have summoned the Chinese captain to appear in court in Brest in February 2026.
• French navy commandos boarded the tanker off the Atlantic coast on September 27, detaining two senior crew members who identified as the captain and first mate; the first mate has since been released.
• Tracking data placed the ship off Denmark from September 22–25 during a wave of drone sightings, but French leaders say no proven link has been established between the vessel and those incursions.
• President Vladimir Putin called the detention "piracy" and warned of a significant response, as President Emmanuel Macron urged European partners to disrupt the shadow fleet that he says generates tens of billions of euros for Russia’s war effort.