22 minutes ago
Ella Kipling
Royal Marine Commandos have boarded a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the English Channel in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Marines, joined by National Crime Agency officers, with the support of the RAF, intercepted and boarded the vessel in a six-hour operation - the first operation of its kind by UK armed forces.
The vessel, Smyrtos, will be held and monitored off the south coast of England as investigations continue, the MoD said.
Sir Keir Starmer said: "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."
Ministry of Defence
Royal Marine Commandos were joined by specially trained law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency for the operation
In video footage shared by the MoD, armed personnel can be seen boarding the vessel by fast-roping from a helicopter.
Further videos show them conducting searches of cabins aboard the vessel, while officers from the NCA inspect paperwork.
Russia has been operating a "shadow fleet" of tankers to evade international sanctions imposed on its oil exports.
Responsible for carrying 75% of Russia's sanctioned oil, the shadow fleet of more than 700 vessels provides a critical lifeline for the Kremlin, the MoD said.
The prime minister announced in March that British armed forces were "now able to board sanctioned vessels that are passing through our waters".
The MoD said the UK has sanctioned more than 500 vessels.
The sanctions ban the vessels from entering UK ports and also prohibit British firms and individuals from providing financial, insurance, or brokerage services to ships that supply or deliver Russian oil.
According to tracking website MarineTraffic, Smyrtos sails under a Cameroon flag and is at anchor off the coast of Weymouth in the English Channel.
It began its journey on 5 June from Russia's Ust-Luga port, an oil terminal near St. Petersburg, before crossing west into the channel on Saturday, BBC Verify has found.
The vessel was sanctioned in July 2025 and has since changed its name from Myrtos to Smyrtos as well as the flag it sails under twice.
The interception was the result of weeks of military and political planning, an MoD spokesman said.
It comes after a week of resignations over the government's defence investment plan (DIP), which is set to be published before the Nato summit next month after months of delay.
John Healey resigned as defence secretary on Thursday, warning that the level of military spending proposed by Sir Keir "falls well short" of what is needed to protect the UK.
Al Carns also resigned as armed forces minister, telling the prime minister that the DIP was "neither transformative enough nor sufficiently funded".
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told the BBC the prime minister "had been clear" with his cabinet that they "had to find more money for defence", adding that discussions on the Defence Investment Plan were ongoing.
She told Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg the government had to "transform the way we do defence spending, so that what we're spending is fit for the threats we face now and in the future".
Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said the MoD needed as much as £28bn in extra funding over the next few years, adding that cutting welfare had to be "a big part of it".
Ministry of Defence
British forces fast-roped from a helicopter onto the vessel
The operation on Sunday was supported with aircraft from the Maritime Air Group, an RAF P-8 aircraft, as well as HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury.
Carns told the BBC the operation would have involved armed forces personnel "flying low level over the sea, rearing up before the ship, fast roping onto the ship, securing it and then taking it into our territorial waters".
He told Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that now the UK had performed its first boarding of a Russian shadow fleet vehicle, "we're probably going to see more, should the opportunities present themselves".
Responding to the interception on Sunday morning, Attorney General Richard Hermer said: "This government made clear that we would pursue Russia's shadow fleet under the full force of international law."
The government has said it is targeting Russia's oil revenues to "choke off funding for Russia's war machine" in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the UK for "taking this important step against Russia's oil fleet".
He wrote on X: "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."
Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the opposition, paid tribute to the "brave" military personnel, adding: "I support the Government in standing with Ukraine."
The operation was conducted in close co-ordination with the French, the MoD said, building on recent support provided by the UK to its allies.
French President Emmanuel Macron said o…
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9 reports
Daily MirrorParty-alignedCenter3 days agoA Russian shadow fleet tanker, MV Forwarder, has entered the English Channel for the first time since UK forces seized another Russian vessel, the Smyrtos, earlier this month. The MV Forwarder departed from Russia's Primorsk port and is heading toward Dongying port in China. Tracking data indicate that a Royal Navy patrol vessel, HMS Tyne, is monitoring the tanker's movements. The MV Forwarder was sanctioned by the UK, the US, and the EU in 2025. Russia's shadow fleet plays a critical role in transporting oil and funding its military operations in Ukraine.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without overtly biased language or framing. It reports on the movement of a sanctioned Russian tanker and mentions the involvement of UK naval forces but does not take a clear stance or emphasize one side over the other.
Official sources cited
- press release BBC report
- data Ship tracking software
BBC News (World)State / PublicCenter3 days agoA Russian 'shadow fleet' tanker named Forwarder has entered the English Channel for the first time since UK forces boarded the Smyrtos earlier this month. Tracking data indicates the vessel, which was sanctioned by the UK, the US, and the EU in 2025, left the Russian port of Primorsk and is heading toward Dongying in China. This marks a shift in behavior among sanctioned ships following the UK's interception of the Smyrtos, which had previously prompted many shadow fleet vessels to avoid the Channel. Satellite imagery confirms Forwarder departed Primorsk after loading oil at a major Russian出口港
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without overtly favoring any political side. It reports on the movement of a sanctioned vessel and provides background on the sanctions and geopolitical context without using loaded language or emphasizing one perspective over another.
Official sources cited
- government Ministry of Defence (MoD)
- data Ship-tracking data
Sky News (UK)IndependentCenter5 days agoThe captain of a Russian shadow fleet vessel intercepted by British forces in the English Channel has appeared in court charged with violating sanctions.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a legal proceeding involving a Russian national without editorializing, biased language, or one-sided sourcing. It presents the facts of the situation without apparent ideological framing.
Official sources cited
- government British military authorities
The IndependentIndependentLeft6 days agoBritish authorities have detained a Russian 'shadow fleet' vessel, the Smyrtos, off the coast of Weymouth after intercepting it in the English Channel. The vessel, registered under Cameroon but considered stateless by the UK, was seized by Royal Marine commandos and National Crime Agency officers. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed the detention, stating the ship was carrying Russian oil funding Putin's war in Ukraine. A 38-year-old Indian national was arrested, while 24 crew members remain aboard assisting the investigation. The vessel is now prevented from leaving UK waters.
Bias read (Left): The article frames the detention of the Russian vessel as a direct response to funding Putin's 'barbaric war in Ukraine,' using strong moral language ('barbaric') and emphasizing the humanitarian impact of the conflict. It highlights the UK's action against Russian sanctions evasion without offering
Official sources cited
- government Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander
BBC News (UK)State / PublicCenter7 days ago Royal Marines board Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in English ChannelRoyal Marine Commandos, supported by National Crime Agency officers and the RAF, boarded a Russian oil tanker named Smyrtos in the English Channel during a six-hour operation. The vessel, part of Russia's 'shadow fleet' used to circumvent international sanctions, was seized and will be monitored off the south coast of England. The Ministry of Defence stated that the operation is a significant blow to Russia and highlights the UK's commitment to disrupting efforts to fund the war in Ukraine.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of the military operation without overtly biased language or selective sourcing. It includes direct quotes from officials and references the Ministry of Defence's statements, maintaining a balanced tone.
The IndependentIndependentCenter7 days ago Royal Marine commandos storm Russian shadow fleet tanker in English ChannelRoyal Marine commandos and specially trained officers conducted the first UK-led operation of its kind on Sunday morning, targeting a Russian shadow fleet tanker in the English Channel.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a military operation without explicit ideological framing, focusing on the action itself rather than political implications.
Daily MirrorParty-alignedCenter7 days ago Dramatic moment Royal Marines storm Russian 'shadow fleet' tanker in huge blow to PutinThe article describes a dramatic event where Royal Marine commandos conducted a six-hour operation to storm a Russian 'shadow fleet' oil tanker in the English Channel.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a military operation without overtly biased language or framing. It focuses on describing the event rather than taking a stance on its implications or the parties involved.
iNewsIndependentCenter7 days agoRoyal Marine commandos seized a shadow fleet tanker named Smyrtos in the English Channel, marking the first such operation under new laws introduced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The UK government issued a strong warning to Russia, stating 'there is nowhere to hide' from evading sanctions. The Ministry of Defence shared footage of the operation on social media, emphasizing the significance of the mission.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a military operation conducted by UK forces against a Russian shadow fleet tanker. It includes direct quotes from official sources, including the Ministry of Defence and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, without apparent bias toward either side. The framing appears neutral, focused
The IndependentIndependentCenter7 days ago Royal Marine commandos storm Russian shadow fleet tanker in English ChannelBritish armed forces intercepted a Russian shadow fleet vessel in the English Channel. The operation, led by the Ministry of Defence, involved Royal Marine commandos and National Crime Agency officers boarding a sanctioned oil tanker. The vessel, named Smyrtos, will be moved to an anchorage off the south coast of England for monitoring. The operation was supported by various military assets, including helicopters and naval ships.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a military operation without overtly biased language, framing, or emphasis. It presents facts based on official sources such as the Ministry of Defence and includes direct quotes from officials. There is no clear ideological slant in the wording or selection of information.
Official sources cited
- government Ministry of Defence (MoD)
United Kingdom