The UK has taken over the Russian "shadow float" tanker

British commandos Royal Marines took over in the Channel La Manche tanker Smyrtos, related to the Russian "shadow float". The ship subject to sanctions was detained in international waters in an operation supported by the RAF, the Royal Navy and officers of the National Crime Agency.

First such operation in Britain

The action took place Sunday morning. According to the British Ministry of Defense, Royal Marines boarded a tanker. Smyrtos during a six-hour operation conducted in international waters, more than 12 nautical miles from the British coast.

On the published video, you can see the landing of the Royal Marines boarding squad from the helicopter to the tanker. Smyrtos. After boarding, the commandos began searching the ship's premises, and NCA officers secured the transport documentation and data relating to itsandanxiety.

British services have detained a 38-year-old Indian citizen suspected of violating sanctions related to Russian oil trade. The remaining 24 crew members, originating in India and Georgia, were left on board. According to the NCA, they are cooperating with investigators.

Tanker subject to sanctions since 2025

According to MarineTraffic, the tanker currently flies the flag of Cameroon and is on an anchor in the Weymouth area in the south of England.

The ship began a trip on 5 June in the Russian port of Ust-Ługa over the Gulf of Finland. The British services emphasize that the unit was sanctioned as early as July 2025. Since then, it has changed its name from Myrtos au Smyrtos and changed the flag twice.

These are characteristic activities for ships belonging to the so-called shadow fleet used by Russia to circumvent western sanctions on oil trade.

Royal Navy and RAF supported actions

The operation was supported by a Boeing P-8 Poseidon RAF patrol aircraft and Maritime Air Group aircraft. The HMS frigate provided security at sea Sutherland and mine destroyer HMS Ledbury.

The British Ministry of Defence reported that preparations for taking over the tanker had been ongoing for many weeks and included both military planning and political and legal action.

In practice, this means that London has decided to move from administrative sanctions itself to actively enforcing restrictions on ships involved in transport Russian oil.

Shadow fleet remains an important tool for Russia

According to the British Ministry of Defence, Russian "Shadow fleet" currently has more than 700 ships. London estimates that it is responsible for transporting approximately 75% of Russian oil under western sanctions.

The United Kingdom has sanctioned over 500 units associated with this practice. Restrictions include a ban on calling to British ports and a ban on financial, brokerage and insurance services by British entities.

Interestingly, a similar operation was carried out in early June by France. According to President Emmanuel Macron, French forces stopped a tanker suspected of participating in Russian oil transport with the support of the United Kingdom.

More and more hard action on Russian oil transport

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer assessed the operation as another blow aimed at the Russian war financing system against Ukraine.

On the other hand, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenski called on European countries to further tighten the rules, allowing not only the detention of tankers but also the confiscation of their oil.

Sunday's surgery could be a breakthrough. For the first time, the British armed forces took over a ship belonging to the Russian shadow fleet at sea. If London keeps the current course, similar actions may become one of the tools for enforcing sanctions against Russian exports crude oil.