Request for intervention by the European Commission regarding a failure to implement EU port sanctions in France (Morbihan and Charente-Maritime)

This letter to the European Commission calls for its intervention in view of the French authorities’ inability to enforce the EU’s port sanctions, while other Member States are strictly implementing them. To this end, it documents the Shtandart‘s stopovers in La Rochelle, its participation in the 2025 Gulf Week and the risk of further stopovers in spring 2026.

English translation of 17 December 2025 letter, initially in French

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No Shtandart in Europe
c/o Association Franco-Ukrainienne Tryzub
Maison de l’Europe
90–92 Bd de la Prairie au Duc
44200 Nantes – France

For the attention of:
Ms Tracie Ryan
DG FISMA / Sanctions Unit
European Commission

Copies to:
Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture (DGAMPA)
Atlantic Maritime Prefecture
Prefecture of the Brittany Region
Prefecture of Morbihan
Prefecture of Charente-Maritime
Semaine du Golfe
Press

Subject: Request for intervention by the European Commission regarding a failure to implement EU port sanctions in France (Morbihan and Charente-Maritime)

17 December 2025

Dear Ms Ryan,

On 7 August 2025, you kindly sent me a letter clarifying the respective responsibilities of the French authorities for the implementation of European port sanctions concerning the Russian vessel Shtandart (MMSI 518999255). Ireland, the United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark, Spain and Portugal apply European or national regulations with due diligence. It must be noted, however, that in France, European restrictive measures are not enforced with the same level of rigor by the competent authorities.

It is in this context that I once again draw the attention of the European Commission to this matter.

• I. Framework for the implementation of EU port sanctions
• II. De facto derogatory treatment granted to the vessel Shtandart by the Prefect of Morbihan
• III. Administrative tolerance of sanctions circumvention in Charente-Maritime
• IV. Organisation and encouragement of sanctions circumvention by DGAMPA
• V. Risk of renewed non-compliant port calls in 2026
• VI. Possible measures to ensure compliance with EU decisions and France’s obligations
• Annexes / Attachments – English translation

I. Framework for the implementation of EU port sanctions

In your letter, you provided a link to the document entitled “List of competent authorities, jointly or individually, for the implementation of European Union restrictive measures. (Fr)”

This document specifies that the implementation of port sanctions falls under the responsibility of departmental prefects, under the coordination of the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture (DGAMPA).

These obligations have been implemented in the departments of Finistère, Côtes-d’Armor, Ille-et-Vilaine and Manche, where prefectural orders have been adopted. However, two departments stand out due to administrative tolerance incompatible with the EU sanctions regime.

II. De facto derogatory treatment granted to the vessel Shtandart by the Prefect of Morbihan

Mr Michel Galy, Prefect of Morbihan, did not take the necessary measures to prevent the participation of the Shtandart in the Semaine du Golfe from 26 May to 1 June 2025. We nevertheless sent him numerous letters and two proposals for a meeting, which remained unanswered.

Please find attached a detailed and documented analysis of this irregular reception under EU law, which I addressed to Mr Thierry Verneuil, President of the Semaine du Golfe, under the title: “What conclusions should be drawn from the participation of the Russian frigate ‘Shtandart’ in the Semaine du Golfe 2025? (Fr)”(Annex 1). The 61 hyperlinks to primary sources could be submitted in any procedure aimed at ensuring compliance with EU law.

I also invite you to review, in annex, the results of the investigation conducted by Ms Laetitia Jacq-Galdeano, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Ouest-France Bretagne, entitled: “INVESTIGATION. The Russian vessel ‘Shtandart’ wages Putin’s war in the Gulf of Morbihan”(Annex 2). Her articles constitute a reference in the media coverage of the Shtandart case. She is notably the only journalist to have consulted numerous Russian sources concerning Mr Vladimir Martus, captain and de facto owner of the infringing vessel.

III. Administrative tolerance of sanctions circumvention in Charente-Maritime

In Charente-Maritime, the situation is even more acute. La Rochelle has been the home port of the Shtandart since June 2022, where it calls frequently. We have repeatedly reminded Mr Brice Blondel, Prefect of Charente-Maritime, of his responsibilities in this matter. On 13 August 2025, we also served him with a formal notice (Fr). These steps have not resulted in any effective measures.

We have regularly alerted the European Commission to this manifest divergence in application, which I detail in an article published on Desk-Russie on 28 September 2025: “When the Russian vessel Shtandart and La Rochelle defy European sanctions (Fr)”(Annex 3). In this respect, we thank the Commission for having taken our previous alerts into account and for having responded to our requests, unlike the French authorities.

In Charente-Maritime, Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/1744 of 24 June 2024, Order no. 2403878 of the Rennes Administrative Court (Fr) of 11 July 2024, and Decision no. 496439 of the Conseil d’État of 18 November 2024 are not being implemented. Even the order of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in Case T-446/24, published on 22 August 2025, is disregarded.

The Prefecture justifies its position as reported by the daily Sud-Ouest on 17 September 2025 (Fr):

“Above European law, international maritime law applies. The latter provides that in the event of technical need or adverse weather, vessels must be able to call at nearby ports. Any port is therefore obliged to accept the ‘Shtandart’ if necessary,” stated the Chief of Staff.

This reasoning artificially creates a conflict between maritime law and EU law, where no genuine contradiction exists. It should be recalled that the European regulation explicitly takes into account the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), even though the Shtandart network claims that it does not fall under it. This quotation strikingly illustrates how the Russian vessel and its supporters instrumentalise legal texts to serve their interests, rendering the legal justification for its reception in French ports unfounded.

In La Rochelle, dockings justified under paragraph 4 of Article 3ea of Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 for the safeguarding of human life at sea are reclassified as “technical calls”. These are tolerated in connection with the commercial operation of the vessel, at the request of Mr Vladimir Martus, captain and de facto owner of the Shtandart. A significant increase in such dockings was observed in August and September 2025, before the vessel sailed to Spain, Portugal and then Morocco.

IV. Organisation and encouragement of sanctions circumvention by DGAMPA

DGAMPA has not taken any visible measures to ensure the effective application of EU regulations to the Shtandart, despite being normally responsible for coordination. On29 January 2025, we wrote to Mr Éric Banel, Director-General of DGAMPA (Fr). To date, this request has received no response.

Our investigations identify Mr Banel as a central interlocutor in correspondence relating to the reception of the Russian vessel. This is illustrated by an email he sent to the Shtandart as early as July 2022, attached hereto: “Situation of the SHTANDART (Fr)”(Annex 4).

DGAMPA was followed by the National Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigations (DNRED) and by the General Secretariat of the Sea (SGMer). Documents show that these services effectively requested authorisations from prefects and port authorities to receive the Shtandart, despite lacking any mandate to apply port sanctions. This involvement is documented through primary sources in the text dated 15 May 2025: “French authorities and the privileges granted to the Russian vessel ‘Shtandart ’ (Fr).”

Pursuant to Article 4(3) of the Treaty on European Union, Member States must ensure the loyal implementation of Union law and refrain from any measure that could jeopardise its objectives. The elements presented demonstrate that the failure to effectively apply restrictive measures constitutes a breach of this obligation of sincere cooperation.

V. Risk of renewed non-compliant port calls in 2026

Available documents and exchanges indicate that restrictive measures have not been enforced by the Prefects of Charente-Maritime and Morbihan. They also show that DGAMPA has not undertaken any action to promote the implementation of sanctions in these departments.

Consequently, as reported by the press, the Shtandart, currently in Turkey, plans to return to French waters in spring 2026 and intends to call at ports in the aforementioned departments. Please find attached an article written on 25 November 2025 by Mr Paul Bohec, journalist specialising in the Shtandart case for Le Télégramme, entitled “A Russian travel agency is organizing a cruise around Brittany aboard the Shtandart… banned from access to European ports”(Annex 5). Le Parisien and the national television channel TF1 have also reported this project.

VI. Possible measures to ensure compliance with EU decisions and France’s obligations

As explained in my article published on Diploweb on 25 November 2025, the Shtandart case cannot be reduced to Russian soft power alone: “Russia. From soft power to hybrid warfare. Case study of Russian influence in Europe: the Shtandart.”

A determined action by the European Commission vis-à-vis the relevant prefects and DGAMPA, or, if necessary, an examination of France’s compliance with its obligations, could contribute to ensuring the full application of restrictive measures. The Commission could invite the relevant prefects to adopt the necessary prohibition orders without delay.

Another option would be to draw inspiration from the Spanish (Es) and Portuguese (Pt) authorities, which have prohibited the Shtandartfrom accessing their territorial waters in order to put an end to infringements or attempted infringements. To this end, the Commission could consider liaising, directly or via the Prime Minister’s services, with the Atlantic Maritime Prefect.

I remain entirely at your disposal for any further information or for the provision of additional documentation.

I thank you in advance for the action of the Commission and remain,

Yours sincerely,

Bernard Grua
Spokesperson of the whistleblower collective

Annexes / Attachments – English translation

Attachments (PJ)

• Annex 1 (PJ1): No Shtandart in Europe – What conclusions should be drawn from the participation of the Russian frigate “Shtandart” in the Semaine du Golfe 2025? (Fr) – 13 December 2025
• Annex 2 (PJ2): Ouest-France – INVESTIGATION. The Russian vessel “Shtandart” wages Putin’s war in the Gulf of Morbihan – 23 May 2025
• Annex 3 (PJ3): Desk-Russie – When the Russian vessel Shtandart and La Rochelle defy European sanctions (Fr) – 28 September 2025
• Annex 4 (PJ4): DGAMPA – Email from Éric Banel, Director-General for Maritime Affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture – Situation of the SHTANDART (Fr) – 15 July 2022
• Annex 5 (PJ5): Le Télégramme – “A Russian travel agency is organizing a cruise around Brittany aboard the Shtandart… banned from access to European ports” – 26 November 2025
  

References / Links

1. Vesselfinder: TS SHTANDART, MMSI 518999255
2. French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs: List of competent authorities, jointly or individually, for the implementation of European Union restrictive measures (Fr)
3. Google Maps: Frigate Shtandart – Bureau du Bassin des Chalutiers, Navire Le Shtandart, Esplanade Eric-Tabarly, Quai d’Honneur, 17000 La Rochelle
4. No Shtandart in Europe – Formal Notice: Request for prefectural prohibition of access to Charente-Maritime ports for the Russian vessel “Shtandart” (Fr) – 13 August 2025
5. Desk-Russie, Bernard Grua: When the Russian vessel Shtandart and La Rochelle defy European sanctions (Fr) – 28 September 2025
6. Council of the European Union: CFSP Decision 2024/1744 amending Decision 2014/512/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine – 24 June 2024
7. Administrative Court of Rennes – Order no. 2403878 (Fr) – 11 July 2024
8. Conseil d’État – Decision no. 496439 rejecting the appeal of the Shtandart – 18 November 2024
9. CJEU – Case T-446/24, Martus TV GmbH, Mariia Martus and Vladimir Martus v. Council of the European Union – 22 August 2025
10. Sud-Ouest: La Rochelle – The “Shtandart” still allowed to dock despite ban on Russian ships (Fr)  – 17 September 2025
11. EUR-Lex – Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 of 31 July 2014 concerning restrictive measures regarding Russia
12. No Shtandart in Europe: Éric Banel, Director-General of Maritime Affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture, involved in the circumvention of EU sanctions by the Russian vessel “Shtandart” (Fr) – 29 January 2025
13. No Shtandart in Europe: French authorities and the privileges granted to the Russian vessel “Shtandart” (Fr) – 15 May 2025
14. Article 4 TEU – Treaty on the European Union
15. Le Parisien: The strange pirate cruise in Brittany of the Shtandart, the “Russian” frigate banned in Europe – 30 November 2025
16. TF1: This Russian ship worrying the Bretons (Fr) – 2 December 2025
17. Diploweb: Russia. From soft power to hybrid warfare. Case study of Russian influence in Europe: the Shtandart – 25 November 2025
18. El Mundo: Spanish waters expel a Russian yacht that anchored in Galicia without permission – 27 July 2024
19. Autoridade Marítima Nacional (AMN): Monitoring of the TS SHTANDART along the Portuguese coast (Pt) – 24 September 2025