British forces seize Russian shadow‑fleet ship, striking first blow to Putin’s war financing

• British Armed Forces intercepted a Russian shadow‑fleet vessel in the early hours.
• Royal Marine Commandos and National Crime Agency officers boarded the ship in the Channel, dealing a blow to Putin’s war financing.
• The vessel will be detained and monitored off the South Coast while investigations proceed.

This marks the first UK‑led operation of its kind: the vessel SMYRTOS was boarded by Royal Marine Commandos and specially trained National Crime Agency officers, despite Russia’s attempts to evade sanctions and continue funding its war in Ukraine.

The six‑hour operation received air support from the Maritime Air Group (Chinooks, Merlin Mk4 and Wildcat helicopters), an RAF P‑8 patrol aircraft, and the frigates HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury.

In March, the Prime Minister authorised British Armed Forces and law‑enforcement personnel to board shadow‑fleet vessels under international law.

SMYRTOS will be taken to an anchorage off the South Coast of England, where it will be held pending assessment of any environmental or safety issues.

The enforcement action carried out in UK territorial waters complies with both domestic and international law.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

This operation delivers another setback to Russia and sends a clear signal to those financing Putin’s war in Ukraine that they cannot evade scrutiny.

I wish to thank everyone involved — our armed forces and law‑enforcement officers who work around the clock to keep the nation safe.

Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis said:

Such operations demand skill, professionalism and courage. I commend our service personnel and all who took part.

Russia depends on its shadow fleet to fund the conflict in Ukraine; today’s interdiction strikes at Putin’s illegal war effort.

The operation follows recent UK assistance to allies in interdicting shadow‑fleet vessels, including RAF and Royal Navy support for US and French missions, and was carried out in close coordination with France.

By targeting the shadow fleet, the UK and its partners are directly undermining the resources that sustain Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, thereby reducing its ability to threaten security across Europe and beyond.

Responsible for transporting roughly three‑quarters of Russia’s sanctioned oil, the shadow fleet of more than 700 vessels provides a vital lifeline for the Kremlin, financing missiles and drones that strike Ukrainian civilians and prolonging the illegal war.

The UK leads efforts against the shadow fleet, having sanctioned over 500 vessels to date. These measures are having an effect: Russian oil and gas revenues dropped 24% year‑on‑year in 2025.

Today’s action makes clear that the UK will employ every legal tool at its disposal to enforce sanctions and safeguard national security.

Background

• The UK has sanctioned nearly 600 Russian shadow‑fleet vessels so far.
• Russia’s oil revenues have fallen 27% compared with October 2024, the lowest level since the invasion began.
• In Q1 2025, UK‑sanctioned ships carried $1.6 billion less Russian oil than a year earlier.
• More than 72% of shadow‑tankers are over 15 years old, and the fleet has been involved in more than 50 incidents.
• UNCLOS Article 110 permits a warship to exercise a right of visit to verify the flag where there are reasonable grounds to suspect the vessel is without nationality. Where a vessel is determined stateless, the UK can exercise powers available under its domestic legislation. Potential domestic powers include the ship‑sanctions provisions in the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, criminal and maritime enforcement powers under the Policing and Crime Act 1979

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