France Plans Tougher Penalties to Crack Down on Russia’s ‘Shadow Fleet’

France is set to increase penalties for ships evading identification rules as part of efforts to curb Russia’s sanctions-busting oil trade. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Aerial picture taken on Oct. 1, 2025 off the coast of the western French port of Saint-Nazaire shows the tanker Boracay from Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.” (Photo by Damien MEYER / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google France plans to impose tougher penalties on ships suspected of evading sanctions by sailing under false or missing flags, in a move targeting Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” France24 reported on Wednesday, April 9. The measures are included in a draft update to France’s military planning law and are aimed at vessels transporting Russian oil in violation of Western sanctions. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . Under the proposal, penalties for failing to fly a valid flag or refusing to comply with orders to stop would be doubled to up to two years in prison and a €300,000 ($350,000) fine. In cases where the safety of boarding personnel is put at risk, sentences could increase to seven years in prison and a €700,000 ($818,000) fine. French authorities have stepped up enforcement in recent months, boarding three vessels suspected of sanctions violations since September, according to the report. Ships linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet” often use tactics such as frequently changing flags or sailing under invalid registration to avoid detection. Parliament is expected to debate the draft law in the coming months, with a vote anticipated by July 14. Nearly 600 vessels believed to be part of the “shadow fleet” are currently subject to European Union sanctions. On Monday, AP News reported Kyiv struck a Russian gas tanker in March using naval drones operating from a covert base in north Africa’s Libya. The news follows recent reporting by French outlet RDI that over 200 Ukrainian officers and specialists have been deployed to western Libya with the approval of the Tripoli-based government led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah. Other Topics of Interest Orban’s Mouse Analogy, Khamenei Jr.’s Fate – Ukraine Latest, April 7 JD Vance in Budapest, Hungarian PM’s leaked call with Putin, President Zelensky’s push for energy truce amid intensifying strikes on Russian oil – updates from the heart of Kyiv To suggest a correction or clarification, write to us here You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter Contact Us Please leave your suggestions or corrections here Cancel Send Yuliia Zavadska Yuliia Zavadska is a news writer at Kyiv Post. She has experience in breaking news coverage, fact-checking, and digital journalism, with a focus on fast, accurate reporting and clear storytelling. Before joining Kyiv Post, she worked as a news feed editor for several leading Ukrainian media outlets.