The vessel was subject to sanctions: The UK intercepted a tanker belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet for the first time
14 June 13:11
On Sunday, June 14, British forces intercepted a tanker belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet that was attempting to cross the English Channel, according to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as reported by "Komersant Ukrainian".
According to him, he personally issued the order.
“This successful operation dealt another blow to Russia and reminded those fueling Putin’s war in Ukraine that we will not let them get away,” Starmer wrote on X.
The UK Ministry of Defense clarified that the vessel in question is the oil tanker Smyrtos, which is subject to EU and Swiss sanctions. The vessel was sailing from Ust-Luga under the Cameroonian flag. According to the ministry, the operation was conducted in close cooperation with France and lasted six hours. Royal Marine Commandos and officers from the National Crime Agency boarded the tanker with support from military aviation and the ships HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury.
“Russia relies on its shadow fleet to finance the conflict in Ukraine, and our operation strikes a blow against Putin’s illegal war,” said Defense Minister Dan Jarvis.
The Smyrtos is currently anchored in the English Channel. The Ministry of Defense added that the vessel has been detained and will remain under surveillance during the investigation. This is the first seizure of a Russian shadow fleet tanker by the UK. On March 26, Starmer promised that the Royal Navy would pursue and detain such vessels to prevent the Kremlin from financing the war against Ukraine.
The Smyrtos is designed to transport crude oil. It was built in 2009. It is nearly 244 meters long and 42 meters wide. The tanker fell under EU sanctions on July 20, 2025, and was blacklisted by Switzerland in August.
Prior to this, the UK had repeatedly participated in French operations to detain vessels belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet. The most recent incident occurred on May 31 in the Atlantic Ocean, 740 km west of Brittany. At that time, the oil tanker Tagor, which was sailing from Murmansk, was intercepted. It is suspected of transporting Russian and Iranian oil in circumvention of sanctions and is linked to oil magnate Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani— the son of former advisor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The tanker is currently under arrest.
Following the invasion of Ukraine, the shadow fleet became one of Russia’s main tools for maritime oil exports. It accounts for up to 70% of the country’s such shipments. According to media estimates, in 2025, the Russian Federation’s shadow fleet consisted of approximately 1,300 vessels. Of these, 544 have been subject to British sanctions.
