With permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I wish to update the House on UK operational activity against the Russian shadow fleet.
Before I begin, I would like to pay tribute to my Right Honourable Friend, the Member for Rawmarsh and Conisbrough, who guided the Department through a period of increasing instability with clarity of purpose and sound judgement.
I sincerely thank him for all he did as Secretary of State.
He leaves office knowing that our Armed Forces are better prepared and better supported than when he took up the post.
Now, Madam Deputy Speaker, this is my first appearance in the House since my appointment as Secretary of State for Defence.
It is a privilege and a responsibility beyond measure.
Not least because this is a moment of national challenge, and it is my duty to ensure we rise to meet it.
It has been some time since I left the Armed Forces.
The tactics, technology and threats have all changed beyond recognition.
Yet one thing has remained constant: the professionalism, courage and extraordinary skill of our servicemen and women.
Madam Deputy Speaker, these qualities were demonstrated in full yesterday in the English Channel.
In the early hours, 25 miles south of the Isle of Wight, Royal Marine Commandos fast‑roped under cover of darkness onto the deck of the SMYRTOS.
The vessel is a 244‑metre‑long oil tanker that, at the time of interception, was travelling at 10 knots.
Within minutes our Marines seized control of the vessel without resistance.
They worked closely with specialist officers from the National Crime Agency.
Support came from aircraft of the Maritime Air Group, including Chinooks, Merlin Mk4 and Wildcat helicopters, an RAF P‑8, the Type 23 frigate HMS Sutherland and the minehunter HMS Ledbury.
I also wish to acknowledge the vital contribution of the Home Office’s Border Security Command Maritime teams.
This was a highly complex operation, executed with remarkable precision.
Lasting six hours, this Royal Navy‑led interdiction was the first of its kind for UK forces and resulted from careful, meticulous planning across multiple government departments and agencies.
All military and law‑enforcement personnel are safely accounted for.
I know the whole House will join me in paying deepest respect and sincere thanks to the hundreds of people involved.
The vessel is now secured outside port limits at Weymouth anchorage.
A 38‑year‑old Indian national has been arrested on suspicion of sanctions offences.
The remaining 24 crew members remain on board and are assisting the NCA.
This is a live criminal investigation; further updates will be provided at the appropriate moment.
Madam Deputy Speaker, in the days leading up to the interdiction, UK Armed Forces, supported by our allies—including France, to whom I am very grateful—closely tracked and monitored the vessel on the grounds it was suspected of using a false flag.
The ship was a UK‑sanctioned vessel sailing without nationality, transporting sanctioned Russian oil.
I can confirm to the House that this operation was conducted in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the relevant domestic legislation.
Yesterday’s operation follows the support the UK has provided the US and France in the interdiction of several shadow‑fleet ships this year.
In March, my Right Honourable Friend the Prime Minister made clear our intention to interdict shadow‑fleet vessels at a time and place of our choosing.
That sent a clear deterrent signal, prompting many vessels to take longer, more costly routes to evade action by the UK and our allies.
Madam Deputy Speaker, let me expand on why this operation matters.
We know who benefits from the shadow fleet.
Over 700 vessels move around 40 % of Russian oil.
And we know who suffers from the shadow fleet.
Sanctioned oil is bankrolling Putin’s brutal war in Ukraine.
Every barrel sold helps fund the missiles and drones used to kill Ukrainians in their homes, destroy their infrastructure and break their will.
This operation deals another blow to Putin.
We are clear with Russia about our intentions and our legal basis to act.
We do not seek escalation, but we will always take the necessary steps to enforce UK sanctions.
The UK has sanctioned over 550 Russian shadow‑fleet vessels.
This has had a material impact.
Nearly 200 have been forced to anchor because of UK and partner action.
Yesterday’s operation sends a clear signal to Russia that the UK and its allies can—and will—act against the Russian war machine.
We will use every measure available to prevent trade in sanctioned goods that funds Putin’s illegal war.
Madam Deputy Speaker, yesterday’s operation demonstrates that the UK’s commitment to securing a just and lasting peace for Ukraine is absolute.
I know President Zelensky thanked the UK following the interdiction.
Yet we should remember that it is we who owe the Ukrainian people.
They have now resisted Putin’s full‑scale invasion for more than four years and suffered under occupation for more than twelve.
And still they fight.
For their security and ours. For their values and ours.
Yesterday I spoke with the Ukrainian Defence Minister to assure him that, although there has been a change in leadership at the UK Defence Ministry, our position remains unchanged.
The UK will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.
On Thursday I will be at NATO HQ to co‑chair the next meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group and to secure the arms and ammunition Ukraine’s forces need to fight Putin’s war machine.
Madam Deputy Speaker, let me end by saying something I have always believed: the defence of our nation is a shared endeavour.
It falls to those of us who step forward to protect the country, in and out of uniform.
We owe a debt of gratitude to all those people who exposed themselves to risk yesterday, to those who will do so tonight, tomorrow, and in the future.
I have a responsibility to them—to make sure they get what they need—and I am determined to fulfil those duties.
I commend this statement to the House.
