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 inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleIndian national Ajay Pant, captain of the shadow oil tanker, MV Smyrtos, has been charged with breaching Russian sanctions. Pant is accused of directly or indirectly supplying prohibited Russian oil or oil products to a third country in June 2026. The MV Smyrtos, identified as a Russian 'shadow fleet' vessel, was intercepted by Royal Marine commandos and National Crime Agency officers in the English Channel. Pant appeared at Southampton Magistrates’ Court and was remanded in custody, with his case sent to Bournemouth Crown Court for a hearing on 16 July. The tanker, carrying an estimated 98,000 tonnes of oil, is now formally prevented from leaving the UK and is anchored off Weymouth, with its 24 crew members remaining on board. In fullCaptain of Russian shadow fleet ship seized by British troops appears in courtThank 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

Vessel will be held and monitored off the south coast of England as investigations continue

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Britain’s armed forces boarded and detained a sanctioned tanker, the Smyrtos, in the English Channel on Sunday

Britain detained the tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel as part of an investigation into Russia's shadow fleet used to evade sanctions over the Ukraine war.

According to the statement, Royal Marine Commandos and National Crime Agency officials boarded the detained vessel as part of the first ever operation of this kind

UK armed forces have boarded and seized a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the English Channel. Footage released by the Ministry of Defence on Sunday (14 June) shows Royal…

The vessel Smyrtos, sailing under a Cameroon flag, was boarded by Royal Marine Commandos

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The vessel SMYRTOS was intercepted on Sunday morning, June 14, in a move that has been described by the Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis as a blow to 'Putin's illegal war'

U.K. crime agency arrests Indian man during operation against Russian shadow fleet oil tanker for suspected sanctions violations.

Royal Marine commandos and officers from the National Crime Agency seized the tanker Smyrtos in the Channel in the first UK-led operation to capture a sanctioned vessel

The captain of the Russian shadow fleet vessel boarded by Royal Marines over the weekend has been charged with contravening sanctions.

Ajay Pant, 38, the captain of sanctioned Russian tanker Smyrtos, has been charged with contravening Russia sanctions after Royal Marines and NCA officers seized the vessel in the…

UK crime agency charges Indian captain arrested in Russian shadow fleet oil tanker raid | World News

The captain is scheduled to appear at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday

Ajay Pant is alleged to have contravened sanctions by supplying or delivering ‘prohibited oil / oil products from Russia to a third country’.

UK charges MV Smyrtos captain Ajay Pant with Russian sanctions breach after Royal Marine Commandos board shadow fleet tanker in the English Channel.

A ship captain has been charged after the UK’s first seizure of a suspected Russian shadow tanker in the Channel.

Ajay Pant, 38, was arrested by the National Crime Agency (NCA) during a joint operation with British armed forces to intercept a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the English…

The UK has arrested and charged an Indian national after intercepting a Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker in the English Channel, as London simultaneously unveiled a fresh round…