British armed forces stopped a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker from passing through the English Channel on Sunday, June 14, in an operation personally ordered by the country’s prime minister.
The tanker, identified as the SMYRTOS, was boarded by Royal Marine Commandos working alongside specially trained law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency, according to a statement released by Britain’s Ministry of Defence.
The vessel is being held and monitored off the southern coast of Britain while an investigation moves forward. Officials noted that the enforcement action took place within British territorial waters and was carried out in full compliance with both domestic and international law.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that he gave the order for the interception to take place.
“This successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin’s war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide,” Starmer wrote in a post on X.
