British armed forces intercepted and boarded a Russian-owned oil tanker linked to Moscow’s so-called “shadow fleet” in the English Channel early on Sunday, in the first UK-led operation of its kind, Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed.

Royal Marine commandos and officers from the National Crime Agency seized the vessel, the *Smyrtos*, flying a Cameroonian flag, after a six-hour operation in waters off Dover. The Ministry of Defence said the tanker was carrying Russian crude oil and had been targeted under sanctions imposed by London to curb Moscow’s ability to fund its war in Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters in London, Starmer described the interception as “another blow to Russia and Putin,” adding that the operation demonstrated Britain’s commitment to enforcing sanctions against Moscow’s energy sector. “The UK will continue to take decisive action against those seeking to evade international law,” he said .

The vessel’s interception follows months of warnings from Western governments about the growing use of so-called shadow fleets—older, often poorly maintained tankers that help Russia export oil at prices above the G7’s $60-per-barrel price cap. Intelligence suggests Moscow has rerouted much of its crude exports through these vessels to avoid sanctions imposed after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Defence analysts said the operation marked a significant escalation in Britain’s enforcement of sanctions, which have previously relied on allied cooperation rather than unilateral action. “This sends a clear signal that the UK is willing to take direct action against vessels involved in sanctions evasion,” said defence expert Malcolm Chalmers .

The *Smyrtos* was reportedly en route to a port in Asia when it was intercepted. Shipping data shows the vessel had previously been flagged in Russia and is believed to have been operating under a complex network of shell companies to obscure its ownership. The UK government has not yet announced whether the tanker will be detained or released pending further investigation.

The interception comes amid rising tensions between London and Moscow over sanctions enforcement. In April, British authorities sanctioned several vessels linked to the shadow fleet, but Sunday’s operation is the first time UK forces have physically boarded and seized a tanker in international waters .

The Russian embassy in London has not responded to requests for comment. The operation was coordinated with NATO allies, though no other countries were directly involved in the boarding.

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Storbritannia har stoppa tankskip i Den engelske kanalen Den britiske statsministeren Keir Starmer seier det britiske forsvaret har stoppa oljetankar frå den russiske skyggeflåten som prøvde å passere i Den engelske kanalen. – Denne vellykka operasjonen er nok eit slag mot Russland og minne dei som støttar Putins krig i Ukraina om at vi ikkje vil la dei gøyme seg, skriv Starmer på X. Det britiske forsvarsdepartementet melder at skipet har ankra opp midlertidig på sørkysten av England, og at dei vil overvake skipet av miljø- og tryggingsgrunnar.

nrk · 4 months ago

Britse krijgsmacht onderschept tanker van Russische schaduwvloot Groot-Brittannië heeft vannacht een olietanker van de Russische schaduwvloot onderschept. Dat meldt de Britse premier Keir Starmer. Het vaartuig deed volgens hem een poging door het Kanaal te varen.

rtl nieuws · 4 months ago

Britse marine entert schip Russische schaduwvloot, premier Starmer spreekt van nieuwe klap aan Rusland De eerste Britse onderschepping van een schip uit de Russische schaduwvloot is volgens de regering-Starmer een „duidelijke boodschap aan Poetins regime in Rusland.

nrc · 4 months ago

Londres annonce linterception dun pétrolier de la flotte fantôme russe dans la Manche Le navire «Smyrtos» a été arraisonné notamment par des commandos des Royal Marines ce dimanche et transféré vers un mouillage au large de la côte sud de lAngleterre où il sera surveillé.

liberation · 4 months ago

Starmer: Streitkräfte fangen Öltanker der Schattenflotte ab Großbritannien hat nach Angaben von Premierminister Starmer einen Öltanker der russischen Schattenflotte abgefangen

der standard · 4 months ago

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die zeit · 4 months ago

Starmer: Tanker von Russlands „Schattenflotte gestoppt

orf.at · 4 months ago

UK forces seize suspected Russian shadow fleet tanker in English Channel The UK Ministry of Defence says it captures the vessel Smyrtos in an operation that lasts six hours.

aljazeera · 4 months ago

UK intercepts oil tanker from Russias shadow fleet in English Channel British forces intercepted a UK-sanctioned oil tanker accused of belonging to what has been dubbed Russias "shadow fleet" in the English Channel on Sunday, in what the countrys defence ministry called "the first UK-led operation of its kind".

france24 · 4 months ago

UK marines board Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in English Channel, PM says Royal Marine Commandos boarded the vessel in an operation lasting six hours in the early hours of Sunday.

bbc · 4 months ago

UK intercepts Russian shadow fleet vessel in Channel It is the first time the British navy has boarded an oil tanker sanctioned for its ties to Russia. Defense Secretary Dan Jarvis said the operation was carried out in close coordination with the French.

le monde · 4 months ago

UKs Starmer says armed forces intercepted Russian shadow fleet oil tanker reut.rs/448CmI4

bluesky bot · 4 months ago

Un pétrolier de la flotte fantôme russe intercepté les forces britanniques dans la Manche: "Le navire a été arraisonné par des commandos" Le navire sera transféré vers un mouillage au large de la côte sud de lAngleterre ...

la libre · 4 months ago

Britische Armee setzt russischen Öltanker fest – Russland meldet massiven Drohnenangriff Großbritannien hat einen Öltanker der russischen Schattenflotte im Ärmelkanal gestoppt. Premierminister Starmer spricht von einem Schlag gegen Putins Kriegsfinanzierung. Derweil meldet Russland Drohnenangriffe nahe Moskau.

welt.de · 4 months ago

Liveblog Ukrainekrieg: Großbritannien fängt Öltanker der russischen Schattenflotte ab Starmer: weiterer Schlag für Russland +++ Nach einem Stromausfall wird das russisch besetzte AKW mit Strom versorgt +++ Russland meldet Abschuss von 185 ukrainischen Drohnen +++ alle Neuigkeiten im Liveblog

faz · 4 months ago

Royal Marines storm Putin shadow fleet tanker in dramatic English Channel raid

gdeltproject.org · 4 months ago

British armed forces intercept Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in Channel Keir Starmer says operation involving UK armed forces has delivered yet another blow to Russia and PutinBritish armed forces intercepted and boarded a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the Channel in the early hours of Sunday, Keir Starmer has confirmed.In a six-hour operation, the first of its kind to be led by the UK, Royal Marine commandos and officers from the National Crime Agency boarded and took control of the vessel, Smyrtos, which was sailing under a Cameroonian flag. Continue reading...

theguardian · 4 months ago

telegram bot · 4 months ago

British armed forces intercept Russian shadow fleet vessel in Channel Keir Starmer says operation involving UK armed forces has delivered yet another blow to Russia and PutinThe British armed forces intercepted a Russian shadow fleet vessel in the Channel in the early hours of Sunday, Keir Starmer has confirmed.The Ministry of Defence said Royal Marine commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency boarded a sanctioned oil tanker during a six-hour operation – the first UK-led operation of its kind. Continue reading...

theguardian · 4 months ago