UK seizes Russian shadow fleet tanker in English Channel

The UK has seized the Russian-linked oil tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel following a military operation authorised by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, marking Britain’s first naval-led vessel capture since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The tanker, carrying more than 100,000 tonnes of Russian crude oil, was intercepted by Royal Marines and supported by Royal Navy and RAF assets. UK authorities said the vessel had been operating within Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, used to transport oil exports subject to international sanctions.

Key developments:

  • 25 crew members were detained without reported resistance.
  • The vessel was reportedly sailing under a Cameroon flag but had been removed from that registry.
  • Authorities say Russia’s shadow fleet accounts for around 75% of the country’s oil exports.
  • The tanker is now anchored off the Dorset coast while safety and environmental monitoring continues.

Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis said the operation would disrupt funding streams supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine, while President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the detention and called for stronger enforcement measures against the shadow fleet.

ℹ️ The Guardian

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UK Royal Marine Commandos take part in a maritime interdiction operation on the vessel SMYRTOS off the south coast of England, June 14, 2026. The boarding, carried out with National Crime Agency officers, was part of a UK operation targeting vessels suspected of attempting to evade sanctions linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine, authorities said. UK MOD Crown/LPhot Hutchins/Handout via REUTERS
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UK seizes Russian shadow fleet tanker in English Channel
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