UK Defends Seizing Shadow Fleet Tanker After Putin Threat
The UK government has defended its seizure of a Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker in the English Channel, after Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to “respond in kind”. The Smyrtos, a MT (medium-speed tanker), has been anchored off Weymouth since June, when Royal Marines Commandos intercepted and boarded the vessel.
The UK Ministry of Defence says Russia has a fleet of more than 700 vessels responsible for carrying 75% of the country’s sanctioned oil. This oil is a “critical lifeline for the Kremlin” in “sustaining Russia’s illegal war” in Ukraine, according to the MoD.
Putin Warns Western Countries
Overseeing Russian navy drills in the Pacific Ocean, Putin scolded Western countries for “seizing our vessels”, branding such action “nothing other than piracy and banditry”. He warned Western countries against seizing more of these tankers, saying: “If these plans are put into practice, we will have to respond in kind. And not necessarily in the waters where raids on our ships and vessels are planned, but wherever we deem it necessary and appropriate, anywhere.”
UK Government Response
In response to Putin’s comments, the UK government said Britain’s armed forces and law-enforcement officers had boarded the Smyrtos “in full accordance with international law”. The spokesperson emphasized that unlike Russia’s shadow fleet, “UK armed forces and commercial vessels operate firmly in line with international maritime law”.
EU Pressure Intensifies
The European Union has intensified pressure on Russia’s shadow fleet. In his remarks to Russian sailors, Putin singled out the EU, accusing member states of violating international maritime law and “attempting to restrict the movement of vessels belonging to our economic operators”. Anitta Hipper, the EU’s foreign affairs spokesperson, said European nations would not be deterred by Russia’s “threats”.
“For us, it is a priority to limit Russia’s capacity to generate revenue to finance its war, including curbing the activity of the shadow fleet and its enablers,” Hipper said. She emphasized that the EU would “continue to work with our partners to call out Russia’s irresponsible and dangerous actions and to uphold international law”.
Background
Many Western countries imposed sanctions on Russian energy following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Moscow has been accused of dodging these sanctions by shipping oil on aged tankers often with obscure ownership or insurance. To combat this tactic, the EU began sanctioning individual shadow fleet vessels – “Putin’s dark fleet”, as the European Council terms it – in 2024.
The Smyrtos continues to be detained by the Department of Transport at a port near Weymouth, where it is being monitored by British authorities. The ship owner is responsible for the upkeep of the vessel, including provision of supplies for crew members on board. However, 22 out of the original 25 crew members were repatriated in July.
Original Article: UK defends seizing shadow fleet tanker after Putin threat — Aol