British armed forces intercept a sanctioned oil tanker linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet” in the English Channel in the early hours of Sunday, the UK Ministry of Defence says. Royal Marine commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency board the vessel during an operation that lasts about six hours, according to BBC and other reports. Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirms the interception and says it “delivers yet another blow” to Russia in posts and statements reported by multiple outlets. Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis also links the shadow fleet to Russian efforts to fund the war in Ukraine and describes the interdiction as a blow to that activity. The MoD says the tanker—reported as the Smyrtos—will be held off England’s south coast to allow for investigations. Coverage also states the operation receives support from UK maritime and air assets, including an RAF P-8 aircraft and Royal Navy vessels HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury, and includes coordination with France. The intercepted tanker is described in the reports as part of a network designed to operate around international sanctions, with the UK saying the shadow fleet carries a large share of Russia’s sanctioned oil.