Sanctioned vessel boarded in first UK-led operation of its kind as Britain targets Moscow’s oil revenues
ROYAL MARINE COMMANDOS have boarded and seized a sanctioned Russian-linked oil tanker in the English Channel in a major UK-led military operation targeting Moscow’s so-called “shadow fleet”.
The vessel, named Smyrtos, was intercepted in the early hours of Sunday morning (Jun 14) as it attempted to pass through the Channel.
The six-hour operation involved Royal Marines, officers from the National Crime Agency, HMS Sutherland, HMS Ledbury, RAF P-8 maritime surveillance aircraft, and helicopters including Chinooks, Merlin Mk4s and Wildcats.
The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, said he had directed British forces to intercept the vessel, describing the operation as another blow to Russia’s war economy.
He said: “This successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fuelling Putin’s war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide.”
The Ministry of Defence said it was the first UK-led operation of its kind against a Russian shadow fleet vessel.
The Smyrtos was reportedly sailing under a Cameroonian flag, although shipping reports say questions had already been raised over its registry status.
The tanker had travelled from Ust-Luga in Russia and was understood to be heading towards Port Said in Egypt. Some reports said it was carrying hundreds of thousands of barrels of Russian crude oil.
The “shadow fleet” is the name given to a network of ageing and often obscurely owned tankers used to move Russian oil around the world despite sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine.
Western governments say the fleet helps generate billions of pounds for Vladimir Putin’s war machine.
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis praised those involved in the operation, saying missions of this kind required “skill, professionalism and courage”.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the UK for taking action, and called for European countries to go further by passing laws allowing not only detention of suspect vessels but the confiscation of their cargoes.
The operation was carried out in coordination with French authorities and marks a significant escalation in Britain’s enforcement of sanctions at sea.
Officials said the vessel would be monitored for environmental and safety concerns while the investigation continues.
