British authorities have charged the captain of an oil tanker with breaching Russian sanctions, marking a sharp escalation in the UK’s enforcement campaign against the so-called shadow fleet that helps Moscow skirt Western restrictions on its energy exports.
Ajay Pant, a 38-year-old Indian national who captained the MV Smyrtos, was charged on June 15, 2026, under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
How the interception unfolded
The day before the charges were filed, Royal Marine Commandos and officers from the National Crime Agency boarded the MV Smyrtos in the English Channel. It was, by all accounts, a first: the UK’s inaugural boarding of a sanctioned Russian shadow fleet tanker.
Pant is accused of delivering prohibited Russian oil to a third country. The vessel is currently being held off the UK’s south coast while investigators continue their work.
