MOSCOW: British forces on Sunday intercepted a sanctioned Russian oil tanker belonging to Moscow’s shadow fleet in the English Channel, according to the UK defence ministry.
The six-hour operation was described as a significant enforcement action and was welcomed by Kyiv.
During the operation, Royal Navy commandos boarded the vessel under cover of darkness, fast-roping from a helicopter onto the ship. The ministry released footage showing the boarding, which took place in the early hours of the morning.
The mission involved multiple military assets, including Chinook, Merlin Mk4, and Wildcat helicopters, as well as a maritime patrol aircraft. The frigate HMS Sutherland and the minehunter HMS Ledbury also supported the operation, the statement added.
The defence ministry said the vessel, named Smyrtos, was boarded by Royal Marine Commandos along with specially trained officers from the National Crime Agency. It added that the operation took place despite what it described as Russia’s attempts to evade sanctions and continue funding its war effort in Ukraine.
Following the interception, the tanker will be escorted to an anchorage off the south coast of England, where it will remain under monitoring.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga praised the operation, saying Russia’s shadow fleet is directly linked to financing the war. He added that stopping such vessels reduces Russia’s ability to fund missile and drone strikes against Ukrainian cities.
UK Defence Minister Dan Jarvis also supported the move, saying Russia relies heavily on its shadow fleet to generate revenue for its military campaign. He said the operation was conducted in close coordination with France and described it as a blow to Moscow’s war financing capabilities.
The UK government has sanctioned hundreds of ships believed to be part of Russia’s shadow fleet, which is used to bypass Western restrictions. These vessels are typically old tankers with unclear ownership and are banned from entering UK ports or receiving services.
Jarvis further stated that disrupting this fleet directly weakens Russia’s ability to sustain its aggression and reduces threats to security in Europe and beyond. Prime Minister Keir Starmer also commented, saying the operation delivers another setback to Russia and sends a message that those supporting the war cannot remain hidden.
Earlier in March, the UK government authorized its forces to board and seize shadow fleet vessels passing through its waters, following changes in international restrictions related to Russian oil exports.
Several European countries including France, Belgium, and Finland have also recently taken action against similar sanction-evading ships suspected of belonging to the shadow fleet.
Authorities have also raised concerns that such vessels may be involved in damaging undersea infrastructure, including cables in the Baltic Sea. The UK government has announced plans for new legislation aimed at protecting subsea internet cables from sabotage by Russia and other hostile states.
Since 2023, there have been multiple incidents in the Baltic Sea involving damage to underwater cables and power lines. European officials and military analysts believe Russia has increased hybrid warfare activities in the region, which is now almost entirely surrounded by NATO members except Russia itself.
Former UK defence minister John Healey, who recently resigned, previously claimed that British forces had tracked and deterred Russian submarines during a covert month-long operation near key undersea infrastructure in the North Atlantic.
His resignation, along with that of his deputy Al Carns and other aides, followed disagreements over defence funding under Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government. The issue has intensified pressure on the administration, which came to power in July 2024 after 14 years of Conservative rule.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly urged NATO allies to increase defence spending and reduce reliance on Washington for security as tensions with Russia continue to grow.