UK Seizes Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker Smyrtos in English Channel
British forces have boarded and seized a Russian shadow-fleet oil tanker that was attempting to transit the English Channel, Prime Minister Keir Starmer says. [1] The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed the early Sunday seizure of the vessel Smyrtos in an operation that lasted six hours. [1] 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. [1]
UK Forces Seize Russian Tanker
The British Armed Forces intercepted the Russian shadow fleet tanker Smyrtos as it attempted to pass through the English Channel on Sunday 14 June. [3] UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that he had ordered the Armed Forces to intercept the shadow fleet oil tanker. [3] The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed the seizure of the vessel Smyrtos, noting that the operation lasted six hours. [1] Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis said operations like this require skill, professionalism and courage. [1] Jarvis added that he pays tribute to the Armed Forces personnel and all those involved. [1] The vessel will now be moved to an anchorage off England’s South Coast for monitoring. [1]
Purpose of the Interdiction
Starmer said the successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fuelling Putin’s war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide. [1] The UK Ministry of Defence stated that Russia relies on its shadow fleet to fund its conflict in Ukraine and that the interdiction delivers a blow to Putin’s illegal war. [1] Starmer also thanked those involved, including Armed Forces and law enforcement officers who keep the country safe 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. [3] The action targets vessels that help Russia evade sanctions imposed over its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. [1]
Recent Allied Actions Against Shadow Fleet
In March, Starmer announced that the Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies of the UK will be able to intercept and detain sanctioned vessels from Russia’s shadow fleet transiting through British waters. [3] The UK has repeatedly taken part in French operations targeting sanctioned Russian shadow fleet tankers. [3] The most recent such operation took place on 31 May in the Atlantic Ocean, when the Russian shadow fleet oil tanker Tagor was intercepted over 400 nautical miles west of the westernmost point of Brittany. [3] 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. [1] In January, French forces impounded another suspected Russian tanker, the Grinch. [1] In March, the Deyna, which sailed from Murmansk under a Mozambican flag, was detained in Marseille. [1] Last week, France placed the Russian captain of the shadow fleet tanker Tagor in custody. [3]
Impact of Sanctions on Russian Revenues
According to the UK Ministry of Defence, Britain has imposed sanctions on more than 500 vessels to date. [1] The measures are having an impact, with Russia’s oil and gas revenues declining by 24 percent in 2025 compared with the previous year. [1] Oil revenue is a key part of Russia’s economy and helps offset the cost of the more than four-year war on Ukraine. [1] Several Western countries have imposed sanctions on Russian vessels over its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. [1] The UK and other countries have pledged to crack down on the sanctions-busting shadow fleet. [1]
Russian Response to Vessel Captures
Russia is believed to be using a fleet of hundreds of ships to evade international sanctions imposed because of the war. [1] Putin has condemned the capture of Russia-linked vessels as piracy. [1] The interdiction of vessels such as Smyrtos is intended to disrupt the shadow fleet that Russia relies on to fund its conflict in Ukraine. [1]
What to watch next: Further UK and French operations against additional shadow fleet tankers are expected as sanctions enforcement continues, with the vessel Smyrtos remaining under monitoring off England’s South Coast. [1]
