UK seizes Russian shadow fleet vessel in Channel

British armed forces early Sunday intercepted a Russian shadow fleet tanker, the Smyrtos, as it passed through the English Channel. Royal Marine commandos boarded the Cameroon-flagged vessel in a six-hour operation, supported by a P-8 patrol plane, Maritime Air Group aircraft, and the HMS Sutherland frigate.

This is the first time the United Kingdom has detained a Russian-linked vessel since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine over four years ago. Previously, the Royal Navy had refrained from seizures due to concerns that maintaining the vessels would cost tens of millions of pounds.

The tanker will now be moved to the south coast of England and monitored for environmental and safety risks. The boarding was conducted under United Nations maritime law.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the operation delivers a blow to Russia and sends a message that those fueling Putin's war in Ukraine will not be allowed to hide. Defense Secretary Dan Jarvis emphasized that Russia relies on its shadow fleet to fund its conflict, and the interdiction weakens Putin's illegal war.

The G7 imposed a price cap on Russian oil exports in 2022, prompting Moscow to use a network of over 700 aging tankers with opaque ownership and unknown insurance providers. In response, the EU and the UK have sanctioned more than 600 Russian-linked vessels.