RIA quoted the Russian embassy as saying the tanker seized by the UK had no Russian crew aboard

British authorities have seized the Russian shadow fleet oil tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel, marking the latest effort to disrupt Russia’s oil exports amid ongoing international sanctions. The operation, which lasted six hours, involved Royal Marine Commandos and law enforcement officers supported by the RAF and Royal Navy vessels HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury. The vessel has been moved to an anchorage off the south coast of England for monitoring.

The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed the seizure, emphasizing that the shadow fleet—comprising over 700 vessels—carries approximately 75% of Russia’s sanctioned oil and serves as a critical financial lifeline for the war in Ukraine. To date, the UK has sanctioned more than 500 such vessels, restricting their access to British ports and services. These measures have contributed to a 24% decline in Russia’s oil and gas revenues in 2025 compared to the previous year.

The Russian embassy has stated that the seized tanker had no Russian crew aboard. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned the operation as “piracy”. The UK and its allies, including France, continue to collaborate on intercepting vessels suspected of circumventing sanctions by flying false flags or using opaque ownership structures.