British forces intercepted a sanctioned oil tanker linked to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet in the English Channel Sunday during a six-hour operation, the U.K. Defense Ministry said, in a move welcomed by Kyiv.
Navy commandos boarded the ship under cover of darkness by fast-roping from a helicopter in the dark, according to footage released by the ministry.
The interception in the early hours was supported by Chinook, Merlin Mk4 and Wildcat helicopters and a maritime patrol aircraft, a statement said.
The frigate HMS Sutherland and the minehunter HMS Ledbury were also involved.
"In the first U.K.-led operation of its kind, the vessel Smyrtos was boarded by Royal Marine Commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency, despite Russia's best efforts to evade sanctions and continue fuelling its barbaric war with Ukraine," the ministry statement said.
