UK Marines Intercept Russian Shadow Fleet Oil Tanker in English Channel, PM Announces British armed forces conducted a six-hour operation on Sunday morning to board a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the English Channel, according to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Royal Marine Commandos and National Crime Agency officers, supported by RAF aircraft, intercepted the vessel, which will be detained and monitored off the south coast of England as investigations proceed. The Ministry of Defence confirmed the move, emphasizing its significance in countering Russia’s efforts to circumvent sanctions. The intercepted vessel, named Smyrtos, is registered under a Cameroon flag and is currently anchored off the coast of Weymouth. Tracking data from MarineTraffic reveals the ship began its journey on June 5 from Russia’s Ust-Luga port, an oil terminal near St. Petersburg, before entering the English Channel on Saturday. The MoD stated the vessel was sanctioned in July 2025, prompting it to change its name from Myrtos to Smyrtos and switch flags twice. This aligns with Russia’s broader strategy of operating a "shadow fleet" of over 700 tankers to evade international sanctions on oil exports. The Smyrtos is part of a network responsible for transporting 75% of Russia’s sanctioned oil, providing a critical lifeline for the Kremlin. The UK’s sanctions prohibit sanctioned vessels from entering UK ports and bar British entities from offering financial, insurance, or brokerage services to ships involved in Russian oil trade. The MoD noted that more than 500 vessels have been sanctioned under these measures, underscoring the scale of the effort to disrupt Russia’s oil revenues.#prime_minister_keir_starmer #ministry_of_defence #royal_marine_commandos #national_crime_agency #smyrtos
