MOSCOW - Moscow deems France's detention of the tanker Tagor "illegal" and bordering on piracy, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.

French authorities said their military had detained the tanker Tagor in the Atlantic Ocean on Monday, alleging the vessel was sailing from Russia's Murmansk under a false flag.

The Russian embassy in Paris said that it had formally requested information from French authorities regarding the possible presence of Russian nationals on board the detained tanker, but had not yet received a response from the French Foreign Ministry.

According to preliminary information, the captain of the tanker seized by the French Navy is a Russian citizen.

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"We consider such actions illegal; they border on international piracy. We absolutely reject the claim that they are being carried out in full compliance with international law," Peskov said.

Russia will continue to take measures to ensure maritime cargo safety in light of this negative precedent, Peskov stressed.