UK govt says Russian oil tanker intercepted in English Channel
By BBC, June 14, 2026British armed forces have intercepted a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the English Channel in the early hours of Sunday morning, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
In an operation lasting six hours, Royal Marine Commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency boarded the vessel, supported by the RAF.
The vessel, Smyrtos, will be held and monitored off the south coast of England as investigations continue, the MoD said in a statement.
Sir Keir Starmer said: “This successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fuelling Putin’s war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide.”
Russia has been operating a “shadow fleet” of tankers to evade international sanctions imposed on its oil exports.
Responsible for carrying 75 per cent of Russia’s sanctioned oil, the shadow fleet of over 700 vessels provides a critical lifeline for the Kremlin, the MoD said.
According to tracking website MarineTraffic, Smyrtos sails under a Cameroon flag and is at anchor in the English Channel.
Sanctions and legal framework
The prime minister announced in March that British armed forces were “now able to board sanctioned vessels that are passing through our waters”.
The MoD said the UK has sanctioned more than 500 vessels. The sanctions ban the vessels from entering UK ports and also prohibit British firms and individuals from providing financial, insurance, or brokerage services to ships that supply or deliver Russian oil.
Responding to the interception, Attorney General Richard Hermer said: “This government made clear that we would pursue Russia’s shadow fleet under the full force of international law.”
The government has said it is targeting Russia’s oil revenues to “choke off funding for Russia’s war machine” in Ukraine.
International coordination and response
The operation on Sunday was supported with aircraft from the Maritime Air Group, an RAF P-8 aircraft, as well as HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on 1 June 2026 that his country’s military had intercepted a sanctioned oil tanker suspected of being part of Russia’s shadow fleet on Sunday with UK support.
A British helicopter provided support during the operation, the MoD told the BBC.
The operation on Sunday morning was conducted in close co-ordination with the French, the MoD said, building on recent support provided by the UK to its allies.