British armed forces intercepted a sanctioned Russian shadow-fleet oil tanker in the English Channel on Sunday, in what officials described as the first UK-led operation targeting oil revenues that help finance Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The Cameroon-flagged vessel Smyrtos was boarded in the early hours of Sunday by Royal Marine Commandos and National Crime Agency officials, with support from Chinook helicopters, other aircraft, a frigate and a minehunter.
“This successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fuelling Putin’s war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on social media.
Video released by the government showed British commandos rappelling onto the vessel, while NCA officials searched through documents on board.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Britain for detaining the tanker. Kyiv has been urging its allies to strengthen enforcement against Russia’s shadow fleet, which Ukraine says helps fund Moscow’s war machine.
“Europe urgently needs to take legislative steps to enable not only the detention of tankers and restrictions on oil shipments, but also the confiscation of the oil they carry. This will certainly help bring peace closer,” Zelensky said.