A French court is considering a one-year prison sentence for the captain of a Russian "ghost fleet" oil tanker apprehended off the coast of Brittany in September 2025. The investigation revealed two Russian private security employees on board, whose backgrounds suggest potential ties to Russian intelligence services. One individual, aged 38, is a former police officer and member of the Wagner group, while the other is 34. The captain claims he was unaware of their true purpose, stating his employer instructed him to take them aboard. These "ghost fleet" vessels are reportedly used by Russia to circumvent sanctions and gather military intelligence, including coastal observation and monitoring electromagnetic movements.