British armed forces intercepted and boarded a sanctioned Russian shadow fleet oil tanker, the Smyrtos, in the English Channel early Sunday morning. In a six-hour operation directed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Royal Marine commandos rappelled from helicopters onto the vessel, which was sailing under a Cameroonian flag. The operation also involved specially trained law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency.
The Ministry of Defence described the action as the first UK-led operation of its kind, marking the first time the British navy has boarded an oil tanker sanctioned for its ties to Russia. Defense Secretary Dan Jarvis stated that the operation was carried out in close coordination with the French. These shadow fleet vessels, typically aging tankers with dubious ownership, are banned from accessing UK ports and services to prevent Russia from evading sanctions and funding its war in Ukraine.
The Smyrtos will be held and monitored off the south coast as investigations continue. The Ministry of Defence stated that enforcement action in British territorial waters was performed in accordance with domestic and international law. Prime Minister Starmer said the successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia, reminding those fueling the war in Ukraine that they will not be allowed to hide.