14 jun 2026
British forces board Russian shadow fleet tanker near UK
Royal Marine Commandos and law enforcement officers have boarded a sanctioned Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the English Channel, in what the government has called the first UK-led operation of its kind, the Ministry of Defence has said.
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The UK has conducted boarding operations against a Russian ‘shadow fleet’ ship for the first time. The vessel, the crude oil tanker Smyrtos , was interdicted in the English Channel in the early hours of 14 June. According to a UK government statement, Royal Marines Commandos and National Crime Agency (NCA) law enforcement personnel undertook the boarding task.
naval newsNational Crime Agency officers detain an Indian national on suspicion of sanctions offences.
bbc newsBritish forces on Sunday intercepted a sanctioned oil tanker belonging to Russia's shadow fleet in the English Channel, the defence ministry said, in a six-hour operation hailed by Kyiv.
france 24
coverage · 8 outlets
- 07:38al jazeera
UK forces seize suspected Russian shadow fleet tanker in English Channel
- 08:39france 24
UK intercepts oil tanker from Russia's shadow fleet in English Channel
- 08:45npr
Britain detains sanctioned oil tanker believed to be linked to Russia's shadow fleet
- 09:07politico europe
UK seizes Russian shadow fleet vessel in Channel
- 09:40bbc news
Watch: MOD video shows Russian shadow fleet tanker interception
- 10:17the aviationist
UK Seizes Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker in the English Channel
- 11:01uk defence journal
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