Britain Seizes Sanctioned Russian Shadow-Fleet Oil Tanker in First UK-Led Channel Operation
British forces intercepted and boarded the sanctioned tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel overnight after Prime Minister Keir Starmer ordered the operation, in what the Defence Ministry described as the first UK-led action of its kind against Russia’s shadow fleet. Royal Marine Commandos, backed by HMS Sutherland, HMS Ledbury and an RAF P-8 patrol aircraft, moved the vessel to an anchorage off England’s south coast, where it is being held as investigations continue.
The tanker was described as part of Russia’s shadow fleet, and such ships often sail under different flags to evade sanctions. The UK said Smyrtos would also be monitored for environmental and safety risks while it remains off the south coast.
From the sources (25 posts)
@financialjuiceUK’s PM Starmer: ordered military to stop shadow fleet oil tanker trying to cross English Channel
@firstsquawkUK PM Keir Starmer: British authorities stopped a Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker that tried to pass through the English Channel.
@financialjuiceUK Ministry of Defense: British forces board sanctioned shadow fleet oil tanker in Channel this morning
@financialjuiceUK MoD: Smyrtos to be provisionally relocated to anchorage off south coast of England, monitored for environmental and safety risks
@reutersUK's Starmer says armed forces intercepted Russian shadow fleet oil tanker
@firstsquawkUK's Starmer says armed forces intercepted Russian shadow fleet oil tanker
@ajenewsBREAKING: UK PM Keir Starmer says he directed the military to intercept a Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker that was trying to pass through the English Channel. 🔴 More on
@ajenglishRT @AJENews: BREAKING: UK PM Keir Starmer says he directed the military to intercept a Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker that was trying to…
@bbcworldUK armed forces intercept Russian shadow fleet in Channel, MoD says
@ralee85RT @Keir_Starmer: In the early hours of this morning, I directed our Armed Forces to intercept a shadow fleet oil tanker attempting to pass…
@faytuksnetworkKeir Starmer has ordered the U.K. armed forces to intercept a “shadow fleet” oil tanker attempting to transit the English Channel. Starmer described the operation as a strike against those fueling Russia’s war in Ukraine.
@girkingirkinRT @Keir_Starmer: In the early hours of this morning, I directed our Armed Forces to intercept a shadow fleet oil tanker attempting to pass…
@osint613UK PM Starmer: In the early hours of this morning, I directed our Armed Forces to intercept a shadow fleet oil tanker attempting to pass through the English Channel. This successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds
@mossadilBREAKING: Reports that UK forces intercepted a Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker attempting to cross the English Channel. The vessel, SMYRTOS, was boarded by Royal Marine Commandos and officers from Britain’s National Crime Agency, accordi
@wartranslatedUK PM Starmer says British forces intercepted a tanker linked to Russia's shadow fleet trying to cross the English Channel this morning.
@bricsinfoJUST IN: 🇬🇧🇷🇺 UK military intercepts Russian 'shadow fleet' oil tanker.
@faytuksnetworkUK PM Starmer says he directed the Armed Forces to intercept a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker attempting to pass through the English Channel, calling it ‘another blow to Russia’ and warning those fuelling Putin’s war in Ukraine that ‘we wi
@nexta_tv⚡️ The United Kingdom has detained a tanker belonging to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” for the first time The order was personally given by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The vessel was intercepted while attempting to pass through the En
@menchosintUK seizes the Russian Oil Tanker "SMYRTOS" as it was in international waters.
@nexta_tvLet’s take a look at the British interception of a Russian “shadow fleet” tanker.
@sentdefenderAccording to the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, UK forces boarded the sanctioned Russian shadow fleet tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel overnight in a first of its kind operation.
@ajenglishBritish armed forces intercepted an oil tanker believed to be part of Russia's sanctioned shadow fleet. The vessel, SMYRTOS, was seized in a first-ever operation by the British military in the English Channel.
@osint613Royal Marine Commandos boarded the sanctioned Russian shadow fleet tanker SMYRTOS in the English Channel, backed by HMS Sutherland, HMS Ledbury, and an RAF P-8. The vessel is now held off the south coast as investigations continue. First UK
@clashreportRoyal Marines fast-roped onto the MV Smyrtos — a sanctioned Russian Aframax tanker carrying ~101,400 tonnes of Urals crude — in a pre-dawn operation in the English Channel. It is the first time Britain has physically boarded and seized a s
@archer83ableThis morning, the UK conducted its first independent operation to detain a tanker from Russia's "Shadow Fleet." The ship, SMYRKOS crude oil tanker sailing under the Cameroonian flag, was boarded by the Royal Marines Commandos while transit