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UK Intercepts Russian Shadow Fleet Oil Tanker in English Channel
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UK armed forces intercepted a tanker linked to Russia’s shadow fleet in the English Channel, boarding the vessel with Royal Marine Commandos and National Crime Agency officers during a six‑hour operation that involved aircraft and a frigate, under the direction of Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The action was welcomed by Ukraine and is part of wider coalition efforts to deny Russia financial resources. The seized vessel, flagged by Cameroon, will be moved to an anchorage off southern England for monitoring.
This operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fuelling Putin's war in Ukraine that they cannot hide. I want to pay tribute to all those involved, including our Armed Forces and law enforcement officers who keep this country safe 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
In the early hours of this morning, I directed our Armed Forces to intercept a shadow fleet oil tanker attempting to pass through the English Channel.
This successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin's war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide.
Operations like this require skill, professionalism and courage. I pay tribute to our Armed Forces personnel and all those involved.
Russia relies on its shadow fleet to fund their conflict in Ukraine and our interdiction delivers a blow to Putin's illegal war.
It was Russia's hubris, fueled by high oil and gas revenues, that paved the way for this war, and every decision by partners that deprives Russia of money also limits the war itself.
And Europe urgently needs to take legislative steps to enable not only the detention of tankers and restrictions on oil shipments, but also the confiscation of the oil they carry. This will certainly help bring peace closer.
Cutting off these revenues helps reduce Russia's ability to finance missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian cities.
Russia's shadow fleet is a tool of war. Every such vessel stopped means less money for Russia's war machine.
In the first UK-led operation of its kind, the vessel SMYRTOS was boarded by Royal Marine Commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency, despite Russia's best efforts to evade sanctions and continue fuelling its barbaric war with Ukraine.
sources
- 1.Le Monde
- 2.CNN
- 3.Arab News
- 4.Al Jazeera
- 5.France 24
- 6.NPR
- 7.CNBC
- 8.The Irish Times
- 9.The Guardian
- 10.PBS News
- 11.CNA News
- 12.Taipei Times
perspectives
- 1.Russian Foreign Policy
- 2.French Foreign Policy
- 3.Espionage
- 4.Shipping industry
- 5.Sabotage
- 6.Telecommunications
- 7.Unidentified flying object
countries
- 1.Russian Federation
- 2.United Kingdom
- 3.Ukraine
- 4.France
- 5.Cameroon
- 6.Japan
- 7.Iran, Islamic Republic of
- 8.Belgium
- 9.Egypt
- 10.Finland
- 11.Israel
- 12.Mozambique
organizations
- 1.British Royal Marines
- 2.UK National Crime Agency
- 3.North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
- 4.10 Downing Street
- 5.British Ministry of Defense
- 6.Conservative Party
- 7.Kremlin
- 8.Labour Party
- 9.MarineTraffic.com
- 10.House of Commons
- 11.Liberal Democractic Party
- 12.Reform UK
persons
- 1.Keir Starmer
- 2.Dan Jarvis
- 3.Volodymyr Zelenskiy
- 4.John Healey
- 5.Vladimir Putin
- 6.Andriy Sybiha
- 7.Nigel Farage
- 8.Al Carns
- 9.Andy Burnham
- 10.Kemi Badenoch
- 11.Kin Cheung
- 12.Kirill Dmitriev