France Seizes Shadow Fleet Tanker Suspected in Copenhagen Airport Drone Attack

French naval forces have seized the PUSHPA, a sanctioned Russian shadow fleet oil tanker suspected of launching drones that forced the shutdown of Copenhagen Airport approximately one week prior to its capture off the coast of Saint-Nazaire. The vessel, carrying about 115,000 tons (approximately 127,000 U.S. tons) of oil, was intercepted after failing to prove its nationality and refusing to comply with authorities’ orders.

The seizure marks a significant escalation in Western efforts to counter Russia’s shadow fleet operations and represents one of the first confirmed cases linking these sanctioned vessels to hostile drone operations targeting critical civilian infrastructure.

Tanker Identified as Drone Launch Platform

Danish authorities identified the PUSHPA as one of three tankers suspected of serving as launch platforms for drones that disrupted Copenhagen Airport operations. According to Danish defense officials, the vessel was positioned approximately 70 nautical miles (81 miles) from Copenhagen during the drone attacks, which Denmark’s defense minister characterized as a “hybrid attack.”

NATO warships monitored the PUSHPA during the incident, and the Danish government is now considering enhanced anti-drone countermeasures to protect critical infrastructure from similar maritime-based drone operations.

Shadow Fleet Operations and Sanctions Evasion

The PUSHPA, also known as Boracay and previously registered as Kiwala, exemplifies the challenges posed by Russia’s shadow fleet. Built in 2007 and currently flying a Benin flag, the tanker has undergone multiple registry changes and was sanctioned by the UK in October 2024 and the EU in February 2025 for transporting Russian crude oil through irregular shipping practices.

Tracking data shows the vessel departed the Russian port of Primorsk on September 20, 2025, transiting through the Baltic Sea and North Sea toward the English Channel before interception. The tanker was previously detained in Estonia due to registry irregularities and safety deficiencies.

Growing Shadow Fleet Threat

Russia’s shadow fleet now comprises approximately 17% of the world’s active tankers—nearly 1,000 vessels with over 100 million tons deadweight. These predominantly aging vessels operate without valid registries or proper insurance, enabling Russia to evade international sanctions imposed following its invasion of Ukraine. Over 100 of these vessels are currently blacklisted by the EU and UK.

The French prosecutor’s office is leading the investigation with cooperation from multiple international authorities.

DroneXL’s Take

The PUSHPA case reveals a disturbing evolution in hybrid warfare tactics—repurposing commercial vessels as mobile drone launch platforms capable of disrupting critical civilian infrastructure from international waters. The 70-nautical-mile standoff distance during the Copenhagen attack demonstrates how shadow fleet vessels provide strategic positioning for drone operations while maintaining plausible deniability.

This incident raises urgent questions about maritime drone defense capabilities. How do authorities detect and attribute drone launches from vessels in international waters? What countermeasures can protect airports and other critical infrastructure from similar maritime-based drone threats? As shadow fleet operations expand, the intersection of sanctions evasion and asymmetric drone warfare presents unprecedented challenges for Western security agencies.

What defensive technologies do you think could effectively counter maritime-based drone threats? Share your thoughts in the comments below.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​