British military personnel detained the oil tanker SMYRTOS, believed to be part of Russia’s shadow fleet.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the operation, describing it as part of broader efforts to counter sanction evasion and disrupt the financing of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Starmer emphasised that Britain would continue to block vessels assisting Russia in bypassing international restrictions. The six-hour operation involved significant naval and air assets, including Chinook, Merlin Mk4, and Wildcat helicopters, an RAF P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, and the warships HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury.
British authorities stressed that the action was conducted in full accordance with national and international law.
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis stated that Russia uses its shadow fleet to fund its illegal war in Ukraine, and that this operation delivers a direct blow to Vladimir Putin’s regime.
Since March, UK military and law enforcement agencies have had expanded powers to intercept sanctioned vessels in British waters and participate in joint operations with allies targeting the Russian shadow fleet.
In response Russian Senator and former Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin proposed a radical countermeasure. He suggested equipping Russian-linked civilian tankers with explosives that could be detonated remotely if the vessels are captured or diverted from their route.
“We need to mine the tankers we use. The detonation should be triggered either by a special command or if the tanker deviates from its route and is forcibly taken to a foreign port,” Rogozin said. “A couple of explosions under their noses with an oil spill and corresponding environmental consequences, and they will immediately come to their senses.”