British forces seized an oil tanker suspected of links to Russia as it transited the English Channel on Sunday (June 15). Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the action as a major blow to Moscow's efforts to raise funds for its war in Ukraine.
The operation marked the first time the UK led a boarding and detention of a vessel from Russia's so-called 'shadow fleet' — a network of hundreds of tankers used to move Russian oil and evade Western sanctions.
According to the UK Ministry of Defence, Royal Marines alongside officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) boarded the oil tanker Smyrtos in a dawn raid. Soldiers rappelled from a Chinook helicopter, supported by other military aircraft, a frigate, and a Royal Navy minesweeper. The operation lasted six hours.
The Smyrtos, flying the flag of Cameroon and carrying 700,000 barrels of Russian crude, had sailed from the Baltic port of Ust-Luga on June 5 and was scheduled to arrive at Port Said in Egypt. The vessel is registered as owned by a Hong Kong-based company. The NCA arrested an Indian national on suspicion of sanctions violations.
Notably, the operation took place despite the nearby presence of the Russian warship Admiral Grigorovich. After the raid, at least six other tankers immediately changed course to avoid the English Channel.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the UK on social media platform X for 'this important step against Russia's oil fleet.' Analysts said the seizure is unlikely to significantly disrupt overall Russian oil exports but could raise costs and force some vessels to take longer routes to evade scrutiny, thereby adding pressure on the Russian economy.
