UK forces seize suspected Russian shadow fleet tanker in English Channel

British authorities have seized a Russia-linked “shadow fleet” oil tanker while it was transiting the English Channel, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Sunday.

Calling the operation a significant setback for Moscow, Starmer said the seizure demonstrates Britain’s determination to target networks helping finance Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“This successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and sends a clear message to those supporting Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine that they cannot operate with impunity,” Starmer wrote on X.

The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that the tanker, Smyrtos, sailing under the Cameroonian flag, was intercepted and boarded in the early hours of Sunday. The operation involved Royal Marine Commandos, National Crime Agency officers, Chinook helicopters, a Royal Navy frigate and a minehunter.

Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis praised the personnel involved, describing the mission as a complex operation requiring “skill, professionalism and courage”.

“Russia depends on its shadow fleet to generate revenue for its war effort in Ukraine. This interdiction delivers a direct blow to Putin’s illegal war,” Jarvis said.

According to the ministry, the six-hour operation concluded successfully, and the vessel will be moved to a secure anchorage off England’s south coast while authorities conduct further inspections and monitor any environmental or safety risks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the development, thanking Starmer and the British public for their continued support.

“It was Russia’s overconfidence, fueled by oil and gas revenues, that enabled this war,” Zelenskyy said on X. “Every step that reduces Russia’s income also limits its ability to continue the war.”

He also urged European nations to adopt stronger legal measures, including the confiscation of oil cargoes carried by sanctioned vessels.

Russia had not issued an official response by Sunday evening. The Russian Embassy in London also did not immediately comment.

Shipping data from MarineTraffic shows that Smyrtos departed Russia’s Baltic port of Ust-Luga on June 5 and was headed for Port Said, Egypt.

The seizure follows similar actions by European authorities. French officials impounded the suspected Russian tanker Grinch in January, while another vessel, Deyna, sailing under a Mozambican flag from Murmansk, was detained in Marseille in March.

Western governments accuse Russia of operating a vast “shadow fleet” of ageing tankers under foreign flags to circumvent sanctions imposed following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The UK says it has sanctioned more than 500 such vessels and claims Russian oil and gas revenues fell by 24 percent in 2025 compared with the previous year.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously condemned the detention of Russia-linked vessels, describing such actions as “piracy”.