UK Intercepts Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker for First Time in English Channel
British forces conducted their first operation against a Russian shadow fleet tanker, intercepting the vessel SMYRTOS in the English Channel on Sunday.
The United Kingdom carried out its first-ever interception of a Russian shadow fleet tanker on Sunday morning, boarding the vessel SMYRTOS in the English Channel. Royal Marines and specially trained officers from the National Crime Agency took part in the operation.
The six-hour military operation was supported by aircraft from the Maritime Aviation Group (Chinooks, Merlin Mk4, and Wildcat), an RAF P-8 aircraft, and warships HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury. The intercepted tanker will be temporarily moved to an anchorage off the south coast of England for inspection of environmental and safety risks.
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis stated that Russia relies on its shadow fleet to finance its war in Ukraine, and this operation strikes at Putin's illegal war. The operation was conducted in close coordination with France, building on recent UK support for allied operations using Royal Air Force and Royal Navy assets.
This marks the first time the UK has independently intercepted a sanctioned tanker under powers granted by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in March, allowing armed forces and law enforcement to intercept sanctioned vessels in UK waters. Previously, the UK had participated in French operations, most recently on May 31 when the shadow tanker Tagor was intercepted in the Atlantic Ocean.
