France Detains Suspicious Russian Tanker Allegedly Linked to Drones Over Europe
In a significant security development, French military forces intercepted a vessel believed to belong to Russia’s shadow fleet, possibly involved in launching drones over European airspace.
The tanker Boracay (Pushpa), flying under the flag of Benin, was flagged by French authorities as a potential threat.
According to MarineTraffic, on September 20, the vessel departed from the port of Primorsk in Russia and navigated through the Baltic and North Seas, approaching Danish waters before turning westward across the English Channel.
After passing the northwestern coast of France, the ship was subsequently shadowed by a French warship, as confirmed by open-source reports.
Currently, the tanker remains anchored near the port of Saint-Nazaire, where investigations are underway.
French officials stated that the crew refused to cooperate, failing to provide necessary identification or respond to commands.
Notably, this vessel was previously known as Kiwala until December 2024, when it underwent a name change after being detained by Estonian naval authorities for lacking proper flag registration and insurance.
An inspection uncovered 29 critical issues relating to documentation, safety, and technical condition.
The vessel, identified on previous occasions as Pushpa, was spotted close to Danish shores amid reports of unidentified drones flying over Copenhagen Airport.
The tanker is listed under sanctions by the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland, and New Zealand, implying its potential involvement in activities that threaten regional security.