UK intercepts Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in English Channel, PM says
Royal Marines and National Crime Agency officers boarded the tanker in a six-hour operation aimed at disrupting Russian oil revenues.
- British forces executed a high-stakes maritime interception Sunday morning, boarding and detaining a sanctioned Russian "shadow fleet" oil tanker in the English Channel.
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer personally authorized the early hours operation, framing the sweep as a direct signal to Moscow and writing on X that it "delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin's war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide."
- Royal Marine Commandos and National Crime Agency officers boarded the tanker via a six-hour tactical operation, marking the very first UK-led physical interception of its kind under strict maritime enforcement protocols.
- The vessel has been identified as the SMYRTOS, which was attempting to transit one of the world's busiest shipping lanes to bypass G7 energy price caps and international trade sanctions.
- The tanker is currently being held at a provisional anchorage off the south coast of England, where federal investigators are assessing its cargo and documentation while monitoring the ship for any immediate environmental or safety hazards.
379 Articles
379 Articles
Britain Intercepts Russian Oil Tanker Linked to Shadow Fleet
British armed forces have intercepted a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the English Channel during the early hours of Sunday morning, the prime minister has said. In an operation lasting six hours, Royal Marine Commandos, alongside specialist officers from the National Crime Agency, intercepted the oil tanker in the Channel. The operation marks the first time a Russian shadow fleet vessel has been interdicted in British waters, after Starmer …
British forces have stopped a tanker in the English Channel, which appears to be part of the Russian shadow fleet. With these ships, Russia circumvents Western sanctions and generates revenues from oil transports used for the war against Ukraine. British media praise the blow not only for its impact on Russia.
Why Was a Russian Oil Tanker Sailing Under Cameroon's Flag? UK Investigates Vessel Seized in English Channel
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he ordered British forces to intercept a suspected Russian shadow-fleet oil tanker in the English Channel, as authorities investigate a vessel operating under the flag of Cameroon. Royal Marines and National Crime Agency officers boarded the tanker, identified as the Smyrtos, during a six-hour operation on 14 June involving military helicopters and support from French authorities. Footage released by Starmer …
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