UNIPA News (London) 14 June-British military forces have intercepted and boarded a sanctioned oil tanker linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” in the English Channel, marking the first publicly announced operation of its kind by the United Kingdom.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the operation was carried out in the early hours of Sunday after he directed the armed forces to stop the vessel, identified as the Cameroon-flagged Smyrtos. The ship had previously been sanctioned by the UK over its role in transporting Russian oil despite international restrictions imposed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
According to British authorities, commandos and officers from the National Crime Agency participated in the boarding operation. The interception is part of broader efforts by Western countries to curb Russia’s ability to generate revenue from oil exports through a network of vessels commonly referred to as the “shadow fleet.”
Ship-tracking data indicated that the Smyrtos was present in Russia’s Luga Bay port on June 5 before departing the Baltic Sea six days later. Its declared destination was Port Said, Egypt.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the British action, calling for European countries to adopt stronger legal measures that would allow not only the detention of sanctioned tankers but also the confiscation of oil cargoes transported in violation of restrictions.
Russia reacted critically to the move. Kirill Dmitriev, a Kremlin envoy, accused the British government of using the tanker’s detention to divert attention from domestic political challenges.
The interception came days after Prime Minister Starmer appointed Dan Jarvis as the UK’s new Defence Secretary following the resignation of John Healey amid disagreements over military spending. Jarvis described the operation as a measure aimed at disrupting financial flows that support Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.
France and several other European countries have previously taken action against vessels associated with Russia’s shadow fleet as part of ongoing sanctions enforcement efforts.
