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British forces intercepted a shadowy Russian oil tanker in the English Channel on Sunday, prompting for the first time a crackdown on oil revenues that help fund Russia's war in Ukraine.
The ship Smyrtos, sailing under the flag of Cameroon, boarded officers of the Royal Marine Commandos and the National Crime Agency (NCA) on Sunday morning, with the support of Chinook helicopters and other aircraft, a frigate and a mine hunter.
“This successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin's war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide,” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a post on X.
A video of the raid released by the government shows British commandos raping the ship, while NCA officers are seen examining the documents. The country's Ministry of Defense called the event “the first UK-led operation of its kind.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote to X that he is grateful to Britain for the arrest of this ship. Kyiv has been urging its allies to step up their fight against the shadow fleet, which it says supports Russia's war machine.
“Europe urgently needs to take legal measures not only to arrest the tankers and restrict the transportation of oil, but also to confiscate the oil they are carrying. This will certainly help bring peace closer,” he told X.
The Russian embassy in London did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The vessel will be detained and monitored off the coast of southern England as the investigation continues, a government statement said. It added that the operation was carried out in collaboration with the French, who have seized several ships linked to “shadow ships.”
The UK has sanctioned almost 600 Russian ships so far, the government said.
Until Sunday, Britain's involvement in naval blockade efforts had been limited to supporting French and American operations.
An epidemic of illegal shipping is being used to smuggle oil that is banned around the world. Nationally, CBC's Eli Glasner explains how these so-called 'ghost ships' work and what the risks are.
Starmer, who is facing a leadership challenge that may have lost his defense secretary last week over a dispute over military spending, in March gave permission for British troops to board and seize Russian ships that Western governments say are helping Moscow export oil with Western impunity.
The Prime Minister's change of position did not immediately affect the number of Russian ships under sanctions passing through UK waters, according to a Reuters analysis that shows the same number passing through its waters before and after the announcement.
