Britain Detains Sanctioned Oil Tanker Believed to be Linked to Russia’s Shadow Fleet
Britain’s armed forces boarded and detained a sanctioned tanker, the Smyrtos, in the English Channel on Sunday, in what the country’s Defense Ministry called “the first UK-led operation of its kind.” The vessel is suspected of being part of the Russian “shadow fleet,” shipping oil in violation of international sanctions over Moscow’s war on Ukraine.
The Smyrtos was intercepted by British authorities while en route to an unknown destination. The tanker will be held and monitored off the south coast of England for investigation, according to a statement by the Defense Ministry. The operation was carried out “in close coordination” with French authorities, who have previously intercepted a number of vessels linked to the “shadow fleet.”
Russian Shadow Fleet Suspected of Evading Sanctions
Russia is believed to be using a fleet of hundreds of ships to evade sanctions over its war against Ukraine. The Smyrtos is just one vessel suspected of being part of this shadowy network, which has been accused of circumventing international restrictions on oil exports.
The UK authorities said that such operations were “directly bearing down on the resources sustaining Russia‘s aggression in Ukraine and reducing its capacity to threaten security across Europe and beyond.” The move is seen as a significant escalation in the global effort to enforce sanctions against Russia, which has been accused of using its energy sector to fund its military campaign in Ukraine.
British Prime Minister Commends Operation
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer commended the operation, saying that it “delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin’s war in Ukraine that they cannot hide.” The UK government has been vocal in its support for Ukraine, and this latest move is seen as a further demonstration of its commitment to enforcing international sanctions against Russia.
The Smyrtos incident highlights the ongoing challenge of enforcing sanctions against Russia, which has developed a sophisticated network of ships and trading partners to evade restrictions. However, it also demonstrates the determination of Western countries to hold Russia accountable for its actions in Ukraine.
Original Article: Britain detains sanctioned oil tanker believed to be linked to Russia’s shadow fleet — Abcnews