The UK detains the Russian shadow fleet tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel in an operation led by UK forces, according to multiple reports. The UK Ministry of Defence says the vessel is seized in an operation lasting about six hours. Other outlets add that Royal Marine commandos and officers from the UK National Crime Agency carry out the boarding and seizure.
The action is described as the first UK-led operation to capture a sanctioned vessel linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet,” which is used to evade sanctions and move fuel indirectly. Reporting also says that the captain of the Smyrtos is charged with contravening sanctions after the seizure.
Subsequent coverage notes that additional shadow fleet activity continues in the region, including claims that another Russian-linked tanker enters the Channel after the Smyrtos boarding, which officials expect could prompt a response. Across sources, there is agreement on the identity of the seized tanker, the location of the interception, and that the UK confirms the seizure through the Ministry of Defence.
