UK Intercepts Sanctioned Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker in English Channel

British forces intercepted a sanctioned oil tanker belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet in the English Channel. The interception was carried out during a six-hour operation in the early hours of the morning. The operation was supported by aircraft, including Chinook helicopters, and naval vessels such as the frigate HMS Sutherland. “In the first UK-led operation, the vessel SMYRTOS was boarded by Royal Marine Commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency, despite Russia’s extensive efforts to evade sanctions and continue fuelling their barbaric war with Ukraine,” said a statement from the UK Ministry of Defence, as reported by AFP on Sunday (14/6/2026). The vessel will now be moved to an anchorage off the south coast of England and monitored. UK Defence Minister Dan Jarvis described the interception as a severe blow to Russia, which often relies on shadow vessels to fund the war. “Russia relies on its shadow fleet to fund their conflict in Ukraine and this interception deals a severe blow to Putin’s illegal war,” said Defence Minister Dan Jarvis. He stated the operation was conducted in “close coordination with France”. He added that disrupting the shadow fleet “directly pressures the resources that sustain Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and reduces its capacity to threaten security across Europe and beyond”. The UK has sanctioned hundreds of vessels suspected of being part of the shadow fleet used by Russia to circumvent Western embargoes since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. These vessels, typically ageing tankers with dubious ownership, are barred from accessing UK ports and services. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the operation delivered “another severe blow to Russia and a reminder to those fuelling Putin’s war that they cannot hide”. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga praised the UK’s interception of the Russian shadow fleet vessel. Ukraine stated the interception was aimed at cutting Russia’s revenues and reducing its ability to finance missile attacks on Ukraine. “Russia’s shadow fleet is a tool of war. Every such vessel stopped means less money for Russia’s war machine,” Andriy Sybiga wrote on social media. “Cutting these revenues helps reduce Russia’s ability to finance missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities,” he added.