UK Forces Seize Russian Oil Tanker in English Channel
British forces boarded and seized a sanctioned Russian oil tanker, the Smyrtos, in the early hours of Sunday, marking the first UK-led operation of its kind.
The vessel, sailing under a false Cameroonian flag, entered the English Channel from the north at about 1.45pm (UTC) on Saturday, passing close to Dover, according to tracking data from MarineTraffic. Just before midnight, it abruptly changed course to head towards the English coast.
Operation Unfolds
In the early hours of Sunday, Royal Marines from 42 Commando boarded the vessel in an operation which the MoD said lasted six hours. Footage released by the MoD shows the commandos fast-roping from a Chinook helicopter onto the tanker in darkness. Further footage shows marines carrying KS-1 rifles searching the ship, and heavily armed commandos and National Crime Agency officers moving through its interior – thumbing through files and entering the cabins.
By 5.05am (UTC) on Sunday, MarineTraffic data shows the Smyrtos had come to a stop off the coast of Dorset, where it is now anchored.
Reaction from Authorities
In a statement released by the MoD, Sir Keir Starmer said: “This operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin’s war in Ukraine that they cannot hide.” He paid tribute to “our Armed Forces and law enforcement officers who keep this country safe 24 hours a day, 365 days a year”.
Dan Jarvis, the newly appointed defence secretary, added: “Operations like this require skill, professionalism and courage.” He emphasized that Russia “relies on its shadow fleet to fund their conflict in Ukraine”.
Background on Shadow Fleet
The Smyrtos is part of the shadow fleet, a network of ageing tankers with opaque ownership that Russia uses to export oil and evade Western sanctions imposed after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The MoD says the fleet numbers more than 700 vessels and carries 75 per cent of Russia’s sanctioned oil, generating revenue that funds missiles and drones used against Ukraine.
Each shadow fleet ship is usually owned not by an identifiable firm but by a shell company – a business that exists largely on paper, with no real operations, set up to obscure who ultimately controls the vessel. Despite Putin’s best efforts to evade sanctions, the Smyrtos was seized in a six-hour operation involving Royal Marine commandos and specially trained officers from the National Crime Agency.
Conclusion
The seizure of the Smyrtos is a significant blow to Russia’s ability to circumvent international sanctions and highlights the UK’s commitment to enforcing these restrictions. As the investigation into the vessel continues, it remains to be seen what further actions will be taken against the shadow fleet and its operators.
Original Article: How UK forces’ six-hour operation to seize Putin shadow tanker unfolded — Co