French military forces have conducted an operation on a deserted vessel suspected to be linked to Russia, allegedly used for deploying drones into NATO airspace. The oil tanker, flying the flag of Benin, is believed to be part of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s clandestine fleet, which includes aging tankers sanctioned by the European Union.
Troops from France were observed onboard the tanker situated off the western coast of France, with a military source confirming the boarding of the vessel on Saturday. President Emmanuel Macron of France stated that the ship is under investigation for serious violations but refrained from confirming reports of potential drone activities originating from the vessel during its stop in Denmark between September 22 and 25.
Macron, speaking at an EU summit in Copenhagen, emphasized the gravity of the crew’s actions warranting legal action while remaining cautious and declining to discuss any alleged connections to drone flights. Speculation has arisen regarding the tankers being utilized for launching drones or misleading purposes. Reports indicate that another vessel, the Astrol 1, passed through the Øresund Strait during the drone sightings.
The incident coincides with Russia’s incursions into Polish airspace, prompting NATO forces to respond urgently in September. Analysts view Putin’s actions as a trial to assess NATO’s readiness to defend member states against potential Russian aggression towards territories historically connected to Russia or the Soviet Union.
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