British forces intercept and board a sanctioned Russian oil tanker in the English Channel, described by the UK government as the first UK-led operation of its kind. Multiple outlets report the action takes place early Sunday, with Royal Marine commandos rappelling or fast-roping onto the vessel from helicopters during a mission that the UK Ministry of Defence characterizes as a roughly six-hour operation. The UK says the operation involves a range of naval assets, including ships such as the frigate HMS Sutherland, along with aircraft and heavy-lift helicopters, and it is carried out under a coordinated approach with law enforcement.

The targeted ship is widely identified in reporting as being linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” a network used to evade Western sanctions. The ship is described as attempting to pass through the Channel while avoiding tracking measures such as disabling AIS and changing identifiers or registries. After the boarding, the vessel is escorted toward an anchorage off southern England and held under guard as investigations continue.

U.K. officials, including the Prime Minister, frame the seizure as disrupting revenue streams supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine. Outlets also note France’s role in past similar interdictions and that the UK says it coordinates closely with French authorities for Sunday’s operation.