“These vessels, which fail to adhere to the most basic rules of maritime navigation, also pose a threat to the environment and to everyone’s safety,” he said.
In a video shared by the French president, armed naval officers could be seen boarding the tanker via a helicopter. The BBC has not verified the footage.
Previously, French authorities had allowed these ships to continue operating after .their owners paid fines but have since vowed to block them.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced in March he similarly had granted permission for the UK military to board sanctioned Russian ships.
But almost 200 Russian “shadow fleet” vessels had entered UK waters as of 11 May since the prime minister threatened to intercept them in mid-March, BBC Verify analysis suggests.
The MoD said at the time it was “disrupting and deterring” shadow fleet vessels, without providing specific details.