The UK Ministry of Defence says it has boarded and seized a Russian-linked oil tanker operating as part of the so-called “shadow fleet” in the English Channel. According to the ministry, the operation targets the vessel Smyrtos and takes place over a period of about six hours. Multiple outlets report that the seizure occurs early on Sunday, with the UK Ministry of Defence verifying the action. The ship is described as an attempt to transit through the English Channel before being intercepted. While the reports consistently describe the UK action and the vessel name, they do not provide additional details about the tanker’s cargo, its route, or any subsequent legal or logistical steps following the seizure. The accounts are aligned on the timing of the interception, the involvement of the UK Ministry of Defence, and the duration of the boarding operation.