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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he had ordered the armed forces to intercept a tanker linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” as it attempted to pass through the English Channel. He made the announcement on his X account.
Starmer said the operation sends a clear message that those helping to finance Russia’s war against Ukraine “will not be able to hide from accountability” and thanked the armed forces and law enforcement involved.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the vessel SMYRTOS was stopped and boarded as part of the first such UK-led operation. The mission involved Royal Marines alongside the National Crime Agency (NCA), as well as air and naval support.
The operation lasted around six hours and included Chinook, Merlin Mk4 and Wildcat helicopters, a Royal Air Force P-8 surveillance aircraft, and Royal Navy ships HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury.
Authorities said the tanker would be moved to an anchorage off the southern coast of England for monitoring due to environmental and security concerns. Officials stressed that the operation was carried out in accordance with both domestic and international law.
