UK intercepts Russian 'shadow fleet' tanker
British armed forces on Sunday intercepted a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker attempting to pass through the English Channel. Prime Minister Keir Starmer ordered the operation, calling it another blow against Russia for its war in Ukraine.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that he ordered the Armed Forces to intercept a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker trying to transit the English Channel. The operation took place on Sunday, and Starmer described it as yet another strike against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
Starmer stated on platform X that this successful operation deals another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin's war in Ukraine that they cannot hide. He thanked all involved, including the Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies that ensure the country's safety 24/7, 365 days a year.
In March, Starmer agreed that UK Armed Forces and law enforcement could intercept vessels sanctioned by the UK that pass through British waters. The UK has repeatedly participated in French operations to detain Russian shadow fleet tankers, most recently on May 31 in the Atlantic Ocean.
The specific tanker, Tagor, was intercepted over 400 nautical miles (740 kilometers) west of the westernmost point of Brittany. It had left the port of Murmansk, Russia, under a false Cameroonian flag and was heading to Limbe, a port city in western Cameroon. Last week, France detained a Russian citizen who was captain of the Tagor; he faces up to one year in prison and a fine.
