UK boards and seizes Russian shadow fleet tanker in English Channel

British forces have seized a Russian shadow-fleet oil tanker that was trying to transit the English Channel, Prime Minister Keir Starmer says.

“This successful operation ⁠⁠delivers yet another ⁠⁠blow to Russia and reminds those fuelling ⁠[Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s war in ⁠⁠Ukraine that ⁠⁠we will not let them hide,” Starmer said ‌‌in a post on X on Sunday.

The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence also confirmed the early Sunday seizure of the vessel Smyrtos.

“Operations like this require skill, professionalism and courage. I pay tribute to our Armed Forces personnel and all those involved,” Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis said in a statement.

“Russia relies on its shadow fleet to fund its conflict in Ukraine and our interdiction delivers a blow to Putin’s illegal war.”

The operation lasted six hours, the ministry said, adding that the vessel will be “provisionally moved to an anchorage off the South Coast of England and will be monitored for any environmental or safety concerns”.

Last month, the French navy with UK support intercepted an oil tanker suspected of being part of the shadow fleet and falsely sailing under the Cameroonian flag, French authorities said.

In January, French forces impounded another suspected Russian tanker, the Grinch. In March, the Deyna, which sailed from Murmansk under a Mozambican flag, was detained in Marseille.