Ajay Pant, captain of a Russian shadow-fleet oil tanker, was arrested in the UK for breaching sanctions, prompting his family in Uttarakhand to seek government intervention.
The vessel was intercepted by British armed forces
Jun 21, 2026
11:55 am
What's the storyThe United Kingdom has detained Ajay Pant, a 38-year-old Indian captain of the sanctioned Russian shadow-fleet oil tanker MV Smyrtos.
The Cameroon-flagged vessel was intercepted by British armed forces while crossing the English Channel on its way from Russia to India.
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