UK forces seize suspected Russian shadow fleet tanker in English Channel
Al Jazeera • • general
Key Points:
- British forces seized the Russian shadow-fleet oil tanker Smyrtos attempting to transit the English Channel, in an operation involving Royal Marine Commandos, National Crime Agency officials, and military support.
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the seizure as a blow to Russia and a message to those supporting Putin’s war in Ukraine, while Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis praised the professionalism and courage of UK Armed Forces.
- The tanker, sailing under a Cameroonian flag, will be monitored off the South Coast of England for environmental and safety concerns following the six-hour operation.
- The UK and allies have been actively targeting Russia’s shadow fleet, a key mechanism for evading sanctions and funding the war in Ukraine, with Britain imposing sanctions on over 500 vessels to date.
- Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has condemned such seizures as “piracy,” while Western sanctions have contributed to a reported 24 percent decline in Russia’s oil and gas revenues in 2025 compared to the previous year.