Macron declares war “the ghost fleet” of Russia: the oil sold in secret finances the invasion of Ukraine
The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, made the European states on Thursday, October 2, to block Russia's “ghost fleet”, responsible for massive oil exports by circumventing international sanctions.
President Emmanuel Macron Photo: EPA-EFE
The French leader stressed that this illegal trade provides between 30 and 40% of the financing of the war taken by Moscow to Ukraine.
“In the following days, our chiefs of General Staff, in coordination with NATO, within the coalition, will meet to build common actions”, Macron announced, asking for a “additional step ” In the obstruction policy of these ships, according to Le Figaro.
The statement comes after, on Saturday, French naval commanders intercepted Boracay oil, a ship under European sanctions, which transports a large amount of Russian oil to India. The operation was performed on the basis of Article 11 of the UN Convention at Montego Bay, and the investigation showed that the vessel sail without valid pavilion.
The Chinese captain of the ship will be tried in February for the refusal to comply with the French authorities. The prosecutor said that the investigation highlighted inconsistencies on the nationality of the oil company and the lack of an official flag.
According to the quoted publication, Macron denounced “Inappropriate and aggressive behavior” of the Boracay crew towards the frigate and the French helicopters involved in the operation.
Experts claim that the Russian ghost fleet counts several hundred ships, which frequently change their names and flag, have owners registered in tax havens and often operate with transponderences stopped.
“Every day, between 10 and 15 such vessels go through the ribs of the Brest ”said a military source for AFP.
Boracay oil, 244 meters long, is known under other names, including Pushpa, and has previously been recorded under seven different flags, including Djibouti, Gabon, Liberia and the Marshall Islands, according to the monitoring platform www.opensanctions.org.
