France has released the Russian oil tanker Boracay, part of Moscow's "shadow fleet," after detaining it off the coast of Saint-Nazaire. The French Navy boarded the vessel on Thursday, arresting the captain and first officer. President Emmanuel Macron stated that the seizure aligns with a new European strategy to block revenue funding Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the action as “piracy,” asserting that the tanker was seized in neutral waters without justification and contained no military cargo. He warned of significant retaliatory measures and emphasized Russia's resolve