Video: UK Forces Intercept Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker In First Direct Interdiction Of Sanctioned Oil Trade

British forces boarded and intercepted a sanctioned oil tanker linked to Russia’s shadow fleet in the English Channel on Sunday, marking the first UK-led operation against a vessel accused of helping Moscow bypass Western sanctions on its oil exports.

The Cameroon-flagged tanker Smyrtos was boarded in the early hours of the morning by Royal Marine Commandos and officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA).

The six-hour operation involved Chinook, Merlin Mk4 and Wildcat helicopters, an RAF P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, the Royal Navy frigate HMS Sutherland and minehunter HMS Ledbury.

The vessel has since been moved to an anchorage off the south coast of England, where it will remain under monitoring as investigations continue.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the operation was aimed at disrupting Russia’s ability to use shadow fleet vessels to generate revenue for its war in Ukraine.

“This operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin’s war in Ukraine that they cannot hide,” Starmer said.

According to the UK government, the operation was carried out in international waters and in line with domestic and international law.

Shadow Fleet

The shadow fleet refers to hundreds of vessels used to transport Russian oil outside traditional Western shipping and insurance systems following sanctions imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The UK government estimates the fleet consists of more than 700 vessels and carries around 75% of Russia’s sanctioned oil exports.

Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis said the interception was intended to reduce a key source of funding for Russia’s military operations.

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

He added that the operation was carried out in close coordination with France and followed previous UK support for French and U.S. efforts against shadow fleet vessels.

The UK government announced in March that British armed forces and law enforcement agencies could board shadow fleet vessels in accordance with international law.

Officials cited Article 110 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which allows warships to verify a vessel’s nationality when there are reasonable grounds to suspect it may be operating without nationality.

Additional powers can then be used under UK sanctions and maritime enforcement laws.

Lieutenant Colonel Tom Quinn said the crew cooperated during the operation and that no resistance was encountered.

“Once we boarded the vessel and moved to the bridge the dialogue that we had with them was professional, safe, and indeed the crew enabled us to conduct the actions that we needed to complete to safely take control of that vessel and move it to an anchorage,” he said.

Ukraine Welcomes Move

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the detention of the tanker and urged European countries to take further action against ships transporting Russian oil.

“Europe urgently needs to take legislative steps to enable not only the detention of tankers and restrictions on oil shipments, but also the confiscation of the oil they carry,” Zelensky said.

The Russian embassy in London did not immediately comment. Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev criticised the move, saying Starmer was using the tanker detention to distract from domestic issues.

Nearly 600 Vessels Sanctioned

The UK government said it has sanctioned almost 600 vessels linked to Russia’s shadow fleet.

Officials said Russia’s oil revenues have fallen by 27% compared with October 2024 levels, while ships sanctioned by the UK carried $1.6 billion less Russian oil in the first quarter of 2025 than in the same period a year earlier.

The government also said more than 72% of shadow fleet tankers are over 15 years old and that more than 50 incidents involving such vessels have been recorded.

Ship-tracking data showed that the Smyrtos was at Russia’s Luga Bay port on June 5 before leaving the Baltic Sea on June 11. Its listed destination was Port Said, Egypt.

The tanker remains detained off England’s south coast while British authorities continue their investigation. No timeline has been given for the next steps.

Reference: UK Government