The United Kingdom released footage this Sunday, June 14, 2026, of an unprecedented operation in which British military personnel boarded and seized an oil tanker linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” in the English Channel. According to the British Ministry of Defence, it was the first operation of its kind led by UK forces against vessels suspected of helping Moscow evade international sanctions.
The operation took place in the early hours of the morning and targeted the vessel SMYRTOS, described by the British government as a sanctioned oil tanker used to sustain Russia’s war economy. The boarding was carried out by Royal Marines commandos and specialist officers from the National Crime Agency, in an operation that lasted around six hours.
According to London, the mission was supported by aircraft from the Maritime Air Group, including Chinook, Merlin Mk4 and Wildcat helicopters, as well as an RAF P-8 aircraft, the frigate HMS Sutherland and the minehunter HMS Ledbury. After the interception, the vessel is expected to remain under monitoring off the southern coast of England while investigations continue and authorities assess possible environmental and security risks.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the action represents “another blow” against Russia and sent a direct message to those responsible for financing Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. “Despite Putin’s best efforts to evade sanctions, we will not let him get away with it,” Starmer said.
The so-called shadow fleet consists of hundreds of oil tankers used by Russia to transport oil and circumvent restrictions imposed by Western countries since the invasion of Ukraine. The British government says this system is a crucial source of funding for Moscow and that the UK has already sanctioned nearly 600 vessels associated with this network.
The British Ministry of Defence described the operation as a clear message that there will be “nowhere to hide” for ships involved in activities designed to evade sanctions. The action also comes amid increasing European pressure on vessels suspected of operating outside traditional insurance, registration and maritime transparency controls.
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Source: UK Ministry of Defence @DefenceHQ | Keir Starmer @Keir_Starmer | Royal Air Force. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
