British armed forces intercepted and boarded a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the Channel in the early hours of Sunday, Keir Starmer has confirmed.
In a six-hour operation, the first of its kind to be led by the UK, Royal Marine commandos and officers from the National Crime Agency boarded and took control of the vessel, Smyrtos, which was sailing under a Cameroonian flag.
It is understood the oil tanker is now being taken to a location off the Dorset coast to be anchored. Once there, it will be held and monitored for environmental or safety concerns.
British authorities say the Smyrtos is one of 700 vessels in a shadow fleet responsible for carrying 75% of Russia's sanctioned oil. The fleet provides Russia with what analysts say is a critical lifeline, allowing oil to be sold and funds generated to continue its war against Ukraine.
The Sunday morning operation is the first time the UK has led on such an endeavour, previously providing support to the French military when it carried out something similar in the Atlantic.
Writing on X, the prime minister, Keir Starmer, said he had directed the armed forces to intercept the oil tanker as it attempted to sail into the Channel.
“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,†he said. “I want to thank those involved, including our armed forces and law enforcement officers who keep this country safe 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.â€
Dan Jarvis, who became defence secretary last week after the resignation of John Healey, said: “Operations like this require skill, professionalism and courage. I pay tribute to our armed forces personnel and all those involved.
“Russia relies on its shadow fleet to fund their conflict in Ukraine and our interdiction delivers a blow to Putin's illegal war.â€
The Ministry of Defence said the military operation had been supported by aircraft from the Maritime Air Group (chinooks, Merlin Mk4 and Wildcat), an RAF P-8 aircraft, and HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury.
Calling it a “blow to Putin's war chestâ€, the MoD said the operation had been “conducted in close cooperation with the Frenchâ€. It said the UK was a leader in tackling the shadow fleet, having already placed sanctions on more than 500 vessels. “These sanctions are working,†the ministry said, with Russia's oil and gas revenues falling by 24% year-on-year in 2025.
Starmer announced in March that British armed forces were “now able to board sanctioned vessels that are passing through our watersâ€.
Writing on LinkedIn, the attorney general, Richard Hermer, said: “This government made clear that we would pursue Russia's shadow fleet under the full force of international law.
“Russia relies on their shadow fleet tankers to fund their conflict in Ukraine, and this expertly delivered interdiction strikes another blow at Putin's war machine. I pay tribute to the extraordinary courage and professional of our Armed Forces personnel, and everyone else involved.â€
