LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Sunday that the United Kingdom is investigating a sanctioned oil tanker believed to be part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” — a network of ships allegedly used to move Russian oil in defiance of international sanctions imposed over Moscow’s ongoing war against Ukraine.
British armed forces intercepted and took control of the vessel, identified as the Smyrtos, on Sunday in the English Channel. The country’s Defense Ministry described it as “the first UK-led operation of its kind.”
According to a Defense Ministry statement, the tanker will remain under watch off the southern coast of England while an investigation takes place. The mission was conducted “in close coordination” with French authorities, who have previously stopped several vessels suspected of ties to the shadow fleet.
Russia is believed to be operating a fleet of hundreds of ships to circumvent the international sanctions placed on the country in response to its war against Ukraine.
“This operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin’s war in Ukraine that they cannot hide,” Starmer said.
British officials added that operations like this one are “directly bearing down on the resources sustaining Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and reducing its capacity to threaten security across Europe and beyond.”
