LONDON — Britain has detained a sanctioned oil tanker suspected of being linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” in the English Channel, marking what the British government described as the first U.K.-led operation of its kind against a vessel believed to be involved in evading sanctions on Russian oil exports.
British armed forces boarded and detained the tanker, identified by authorities as the Smyrtos, during an operation on Sunday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Ministry of Defence said. The vessel is being investigated over suspected violations of sanctions imposed on Russia following the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine.
According to the Defence Ministry, the operation was conducted in coordination with French authorities. Royal Marine commandos and officers from the National Crime Agency boarded the Cameroon-flagged vessel while it was transiting the Channel. Officials said the tanker will remain under detention and monitoring off England’s southern coast while investigations continue.
British authorities said Russia is believed to rely on a network of hundreds of vessels, commonly referred to as a “shadow fleet,” to transport oil while attempting to circumvent international sanctions. Western governments have increasingly targeted such vessels as part of broader efforts to restrict revenue linked to Russian energy exports.
“This operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin’s war in Ukraine that they cannot hide,” Starmer said in a statement released by the government.
The Ministry of Defence said the detention was carried out in accordance with domestic and international law. Officials added that the action was intended to strengthen enforcement of sanctions and disrupt activities believed to support Russia’s military operations.
Ukraine welcomed the move. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Britain for the operation and called for broader European measures against vessels involved in transporting sanctioned Russian oil, according to statements reported by multiple media outlets.
Details regarding the tanker’s ownership structure, cargo status and any potential legal proceedings remain unclear. British authorities have not announced any charges and said the investigation is ongoing. The Smyrtos remained under U.K. control off the south coast of England as of Monday, while officials continued examining documents and other evidence collected during the operation.
