UK seizes suspected Russian shadow fleet tanker
DW • • general
Key Points:
- The UK Ministry of Defence announced that Royal Marine Commandos captured the Russian tanker SMYRTOS in the English Channel, targeting Russia's shadow fleet involved in sanction-evading fuel transport to fund the war in Ukraine.
- The operation, coordinated with French forces, marks the first UK-led interdiction of its kind since legislation was passed in March allowing UK forces to board and seize sanctioned vessels.
- UK Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis described the seizure as a significant blow to Russia's war economy and its capacity to threaten European security, while Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the message it sends to those supporting Putin's war.
- Ukraine's leadership praised the UK's action and urged European allies to strengthen legislative measures for detaining and confiscating sanction-evading tankers to further weaken Russia's war efforts.
- The SMYRTOS is being held off the South Coast of England under monitoring for environmental and safety concerns, with enforcement actions carried out in compliance with domestic and international law.
