Arabic version: قوات المملكة المتحدة تعترض ناقلة نفط روسية في القناة الإنجليزية

British armed forces have intercepted a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker, identified as Smyrtos, in the English Channel during a six-hour operation early Sunday morning. The operation involved Royal Marine Commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency, with support from the RAF.

According to BBC News, the vessel will be held and monitored off the south coast of England as investigations continue. Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, remarked that this operation delivers yet another blow to Russia, emphasizing that those fueling President Putin’s war in Ukraine will not let them hide.

Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis stated that Russia’s reliance on its shadow fleet to fund its conflict in Ukraine makes such interceptions critical. The UK has already sanctioned more than 500 vessels linked to this shadow fleet, which is responsible for carrying 75% of Russia’s sanctioned oil exports.

The operation was supported by aircraft from the Maritime Air Group, including an RAF P-8 aircraft, and naval vessels HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury. The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that the operation was conducted in close co-ordination with French authorities, highlighting ongoing collaboration between the two nations in addressing the issue of sanctioned Russian vessels.

This interception aligns with the UK government’s strategy to target Russia’s oil revenues, aiming to choke off funding for its military operations in Ukraine. The UK continues to enforce strict sanctions against vessels involved in the transportation of Russian oil, aiming to disrupt the Kremlin’s financial resources.