UK intercepts Russian shadow fleet vessel in Channel: defence ministry

In a significant operation, British forces intercepted a sanctioned Russian oil tanker, identified as Smyrtos, in the English Channel. The Ministry of Defence announced the six-hour operation, which saw Navy commandos board the vessel under the cover of darkness by fast-roping from a helicopter.

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In the first UK-led operation of its kind, the vessel Smyrtos was boarded by Royal Marine Commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency, despite Russia’s best efforts to evade sanctions and continue fuelling its barbaric war with Ukraine.

The interception, supported by multiple helicopters and a maritime patrol aircraft, involved the frigate HMS Sutherland and the minehunter HMS Ledbury. The Ministry stated this was the first UK-led operation of its kind, boarding the vessel despite Russia's efforts to evade sanctions and fund its war in Ukraine.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga hailed the operation, calling Russia's shadow fleet a "tool of war." He emphasized that stopping such vessels reduces Russia's ability to finance missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian cities. Newly appointed UK Defence Minister Dan Jarvis echoed this sentiment, stating the interdiction "delivers a blow to Putin’s illegal war."

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Russia’s shadow fleet is a tool of war. Every such vessel stopped means less money for Russia’s war machine. Cutting off these revenues helps reduce Russia’s ability to finance missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian cities.

The UK has been sanctioning vessels suspected of being part of the shadow fleet since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. These ships, often aging tankers with questionable ownership, are barred from UK ports and services. Disrupting this fleet, Jarvis added, directly impacts the resources sustaining Russia's aggression and its capacity to threaten European security.

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Russia relies on its shadow fleet to fund their conflict in Ukraine and our interdiction delivers a blow to Putin’s illegal war.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer remarked that the operation delivered "yet another blow to Russia," reminding those funding the war that "they cannot hide." The UK government had previously announced that British forces would be empowered to board and seize shadow fleet vessels transiting its waters. This action follows similar seizures of sanction-busting vessels by France, Belgium, and Finland, and amid concerns that such ships may be involved in sabotaging undersea cables.

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yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fuelling Putin’s war in Ukraine that they cannot hide.