Royal Marine Commandos boarded a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the English Channel in the early hours of Sunday, marking the first operation of its kind by UK armed forces. Marines worked alongside National Crime Agency (NCA) officers, with support from the Royal Air Force, to intercept the vessel during a six-hour operation.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed that the vessel, Smyrtos, will remain held and monitored off England’s south coast as investigations continue.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the operation “delivers yet another blow to Russia” and warned those “fuelling Putin’s war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide.”
Footage released by the MoD shows armed personnel fast-roping onto the vessel from a helicopter before searching cabins, while NCA officers examined documentation. According to the MoD, Russia’s shadow fleet, which comprises more than 700 vessels, carries 75% of the country’s sanctioned oil exports and serves as a vital revenue source for the Kremlin.
Sanctions Enforcement Intensifies
In March, the prime minister announced that British forces could now board sanctioned vessels passing through UK waters. Since then, authorities have sanctioned over 500 vessels, banning them from UK ports and barring British firms from providing insurance, financial, or brokerage services linked to Russian oil shipments.
Tracking data from MarineTraffic shows Smyrtos sails under a Cameroon flag and departed Russia’s Ust-Luga port on 5 June before crossing into the Channel on Saturday. The ship, sanctioned in July 2025, has since changed its name and flag twice, BBC Verify has found.
The interception followed weeks of military and political planning, an MoD spokesman said. However, it comes amid a turbulent week for the government, following the resignations of Defence Secretary John Healey and Armed Forces Minister Al Carns over the Defence Investment Plan, which Healey said “falls well short” of required spending levels.
Geopolitical and Domestic Impact
Despite the political backdrop, the operation drew cross-party and international support. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the UK for “taking this important step against Russia’s oil fleet,” while opposition leader Kemi Badenoch praised the “brave” personnel involved. Attorney General Richard Hermer added that the government “would pursue Russia’s shadow fleet under the full force of international law.”
The MoD confirmed the operation was conducted in close coordination with France, building on recent joint efforts between the two allies against Russian sanctions evasion.
