• A Chinese captain has been detained for trial in France over a tanker linked to Russia's shadow fleet.
• The Boracay tanker was previously released and set sail again despite investigations into its operations.
• French President Macron emphasizes the need to disrupt the funding mechanisms supporting Russia's war efforts in Ukraine.

A French court is scheduled to try the Chinese captain of the Boracay, a tanker from Russia's "shadow fleet," after its interception off the French coast. This vessel, blacklisted by the European Union, was stopped due to its links to Russia’s evasion of sanctions. French officials had detained the captain and first mate for failing to cooperate with maritime authorities, but the first mate was later released, according to Le Monde.

Following its detention, the Boracay managed to set sail again, heading southwest down the Bay of Biscay. It was unclear why the vessel was allowed to depart after its raid by French Navy commandos, with the French prosecutor's office not providing comments on the developments. The ship, under investigation for inconsistencies regarding its nationality, was initially bound for India's Vadinar port, according to Reuters and India Times.

French President Emmanuel Macron has reiterated the importance of detaining such vessels to diminish the financial resources available to Russia amidst its ongoing war in Ukraine. He stated that the goal was to disrupt the "business model" behind Russia’s oil shipment operations, which rely heavily on this shadow fleet of aging tankers. "You kill the business model by detaining these vessels," Macron emphasized, highlighting the necessity for Europe to adopt a stronger stance against these maritime operations, as reported by Reuters and India Times.

Moreover, the Boracay has been linked to mysterious drone flights over Denmark last month, which raised further questions regarding its operations and potential connections to espionage activities. Macron stopped short of confirming these links but acknowledged the ongoing concerns surrounding such security threats, with military sources stating that Russian vessels frequently appear off Europe’s coasts. Such incidents add a layer of complexity to the already tense relations between European nations and Russia, according to Le Monde and India Times.