Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleBritish armed forces intercepted a Russian shadow fleet vessel in the Channel in the early hours of Sunday, marking the first UK-led operation of its kind. Royal Marine commandos and specially trained National Crime Agency officers boarded the sanctioned oil tanker, named Smyrtos, during a six-hour operation. The vessel will be provisionally moved to an anchorage off the south coast of England for monitoring regarding environmental or safety concerns. The Ministry of Defence confirmed the operation was supported by various military aircraft and ships, including Chinooks, Merlin Mk4, Wildcat, an RAF P-8 aircraft, and HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury. Sir Keir Starmer and Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis praised the operation, stating it delivers a blow to Russia's efforts to fund its war in Ukraine by circumventing international sanctions through poorly regulated shadow fleet vessels. In fullUK armed forces board Russian shadow fleet tanker in English ChannelThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
British armed forces intercept Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in Channel
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleBritish armed forces intercepted a Russian shadow fleet vessel in the Channel in the early hours of Sunday, marking the first UK-led operation of its kind. Royal Marine commandos and specially trained National Crime Agency officers boarded the sanctioned oil tanker, named Smyrtos, during a six-hour operation. The vessel will be provisionally moved to an anchorage off the south coast of England for monitoring regarding environmental or safety concerns. The Ministry of Defence confirmed the operation was supported by various military aircraft and ships, including Chinooks, Merlin Mk4, Wildcat, an RAF P-8 aircraft, and HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury. Sir Keir Starmer and Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis praised the operation, stating it delivers a blow to Russia's efforts to fund its war in Ukraine by circumventing international sanctions through poorly regulated shadow fleet vessels. In fullUK armed forces board Russian shadow fleet tanker in English ChannelThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
