UK seizes Russian shadow fleet vessel in Channel
politico.eu • • general
Key Points:
- British Royal Marine commandos intercepted and boarded the Russian-sanctioned tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel during a six-hour operation, marking the UK's first seizure of a Russia-linked vessel since the invasion of Ukraine began.
- The operation involved multiple military assets, including a P-8 patrol plane, Maritime Air Group aircraft, and the HMS Sutherland frigate, with the vessel now being moved to the south coast of England for monitoring.
- This interception is part of a broader European effort to enforce sanctions and disrupt Russia’s shadow fleet, which uses aging tankers with opaque ownership to export oil despite G7 price limits.
- The UK and EU have sanctioned over 600 Russia-linked vessels to choke off Moscow’s oil revenues, which fund its conflict in Ukraine, with British officials emphasizing the operation as a significant blow to Russia’s war efforts.
- Previous concerns about the high cost of maintaining seized vessels had limited UK actions, but recent moves show a shift towards a more assertive enforcement of sanctions against Russia.