France seizes Russia-bound ship suspected of violating EU sanctions

The Russian embassy in France is seeking an explanation from authorities over the ship’s seizure

French sea police seized a ship on Saturday that authorities suspect belongs to a Russian company targeted by European Union sanctions over the war in Ukraine, a government official told Reuters.

The cargo vessel transporting cars, which was headed for St. Petersburg, is “strongly suspected of being linked to Russian interests targeted by the sanctions,” said Captain Veronique Magnin of the French Maritime Prefecture.

The ship was diverted to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer in northern France between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. (0200-0300 GMT), Magnin said, adding ongoing checks were being carried out by customs officials and the ship’s crew was “being cooperative.”

French newspaper La Voix Du Nord, which first reported the news, said the vessel was the “Baltic Leader,” which - according to website marinetraffic.com - sails under a Russian flag.

The vessel is mentioned in a United States Treasury document detailing U.S. sanctions against Russia, which linked it to a Russian bank, Promsvyazbank Public Joint Stock Company (PSB).

“PSB was designated for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel and financial services sectors of the