U.K Arrests Indian Captain Of Russian Shadow Fleet Oil Tanker Over Sanctions Evasion

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Authorities in Britain arrested the 38-year-old Captain Ajay Pant, an Indian national, over a sanctions breach.

He is accused of being involved in supplying Russian oil to a third country, despite the Western sanctions imposed on Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine.

He is currently in custody and will appear at the Bournemouth Crown Court on 16 July.

SMYRTOS, a russian shadow fleet oil tanker, was trying to pass through the English Channel when it was intercepted by British Armed Forces last week.

It was then boarded by Royal Marine Commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers ⁠from the National Crime Agency, at the instructions of the British PM Kier Starmer.

The tanker was sailing under the flag of Smyrtos and departed the Russian Baltic Port of Ust-Luga on June 5, 2026.

It was en route to Egypt’s Port Said when it was seized by the United Kingdom along with the 24 crew from Georgia and India who remain onboard the tanker anchored off Weymouth in Dorset.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to British Prime Minister Starmer and the people for their “principled resolve.”

“It was Russia’s hubris, fueled by high oil and gas revenues, that paved the way for this war, and every decision by partners that deprives Russia of money also limits the war itself,” Zelenskyy said on X.

He also added that Europe must take strict legislative steps to detect such tankers and not only restrict the shipment but also confiscate the Russian Oil they carry.