French military personnel have boarded the oil tanker Boracay, suspected to be part of Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ used to circumvent international sanctions imposed due to the Ukraine conflict. The vessel, which departed Russia last month, was anchored off the western coast of France after being involved in a series of drone-related disruptions near Denmark last week. President Emmanuel Macron, speaking at an EU leaders’ summit in Copenhagen, accused the crew of committing ‘serious offences’ but provided no further details. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied any knowledge of the vessel. French prosecutors in Brest have launched an investigation into the ship for refusing to stop and failing to justify its flag nationality. The Boracay, also known as Pushpa and Kiwala, is registered under Benin but is subject to UK and EU sanctions. It was previously detained by Estonian authorities for sailing without a valid flag. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between Russia and Western nations, particularly in the context of energy sanctions and hybrid warfare tactics. EU leaders are under pressure to enhance European defense capabilities following a series of Russian incursions into EU airspace, including drone attacks on Danish airports. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen emphasized the need for a robust response to these threats, linking the drone disruptions to broader Russian hybrid warfare strategies. The EU is considering a multi-layered ‘drone wall’ to detect and neutralize such threats, particularly in Eastern European countries like Poland and Estonia.