Around twenty Greenpeace activists blocked a cargo ship in the port of Dunkirk at dawn on Monday, March 2nd, to protest the continued uranium trade between Russia and France. The action, which lasted nearly five hours, ended with police intervention. Twelve activists were arrested, four of whom were taken into custody.
According to police, three Germans and one Dutchman are being prosecuted for obstructing the freedom to work and trespassing in an unauthorized area. The blockade began at 4:10 a.m. and was lifted around 9:10 a.m.
The activists were targeting the cargo ship Mikhail DudinThe ship was immobilized in a lock to prevent it from unloading its cargo, which the NGO suspects is uranium from Russia destined for the French nuclear sector. Some activists chained themselves to a metal structure to block access, while others positioned themselves in kayaks around the vessel.
Banners displayed slogans including "Uranium: EDF loves Putin" and "Stop toxic contracts," as well as "Solidarity with Ukrainians." Greenpeace asserts that these exchanges constitute a loophole in the European sanctions regime adopted after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Uranium flows still active
The NGO argues that the Mikhail Dudin has made more than twenty round trips between Dunkirk and Russian ports since February 2022. Another cargo ship, the Baltiyskiy-202, is also said to have provided similar transport services. Both sail under the Panamanian flag and belong to companies registered in Hong Kong, according to international maritime registers.
According to French customs data, France imported at least 112 tonnes of enriched uranium and associated compounds from Russia in 2025, representing approximately a quarter of its total purchases by volume. This level is stable compared to 2024, although lower than in 2022. Regarding processed natural uranium, a significant portion of supplies comes from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Greenpeace also denounces exports of reprocessed uranium to Russia, pointing out that Rosatom currently operates the only site in the world capable of carrying out certain conversion operations necessary for the recycling of spent fuel.
The judicial investigation continues to determine the next steps to be taken in the proceedings initiated against the arrested activists.
