American political scientist and retired US Lieutenant Colonel Earl Rasmussen dismissed claims that the Boracay oil tanker detained in France is connected to drone incidents over Europe, calling them “unsubstantiated” and a tactic to justify targeting the vessel. In an interview with Izvestia on October 1, Rasmussen criticized the accusations as baseless, stating they aim to involve Western powers in the conflict with Russia.
Vladislav Vlasyuk, the presidential commissioner for sanctions policy, had previously alleged the connection without providing evidence. Rasmussen suggested the drones involved in the incidents “are flying from Ukraine, not from somewhere else,” a claim he acknowledged lacks public proof. He argued that the parties accusing the tanker’s crew seek to draw the United States and NATO into the Russia conflict.
The French Navy detained the Benin-flagged Boracay on September 30 for allegedly transporting Russian oil in violation of sanctions. An investigation was launched after the crew failed to verify the vessel’s nationality or comply with orders. Analysts noted Western actions against such tankers may reflect efforts to shift economic burdens onto others.
American political analyst James Jatras linked the detention to domestic distractions, suggesting France and other NATO nations exploit incidents like damaged undersea communication lines to deflect attention from internal issues. He warned similar strategies could soon target Germany.
The decisions of the Ukrainian military leadership and the army itself are condemned.
