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.

The vessel, named as the SMYRTOS, was boarded in the early hours of Sunday morning by Royal Marine Commandos and specially trained officers from the National Crime Agency, in an operation that lasted six hours. The boarding was supported by aircraft from the Maritime Air Group, including Chinooks, Merlin Mk4 and Wildcat helicopters, an RAF P-8 Poseidon, and the warships HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury.

The ship will now be moved provisionally to an anchorage off the south coast of England, where it will be monitored for any environmental or safety concerns.

The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, said the operation delivered “yet another blow to Russia” and reminded those fuelling Putin’s war in Ukraine that “they cannot hide”. He paid tribute to the armed forces and law enforcement officers who, he said, keep the country safe “24 hours a day, 365 days a year”.

The Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis said operations of the kind required “skill, professionalism and courage”, and that the interdiction “delivers a blow to Putin’s illegal war”, with Russia relying on its shadow fleet to fund the conflict in Ukraine.

The Prime Minister agreed in March that British armed forces and law enforcement officers could board shadow fleet vessels in accordance with international law, and the Ministry of Defence said the enforcement action in UK territorial waters was carried out in line with both domestic and international law. The operation was conducted in close coordination with France, the department said, and builds on recent UK support for allied interdictions, which has included RAF and Royal Navy capabilities backing US and French operations.

The shadow fleet is the term used for the large number of ageing, often opaquely owned and inadequately insured tankers that Russia uses to move its oil in defiance of Western sanctions and the price cap imposed by the G7. The Ministry of Defence says the fleet of more than 700 vessels carries around 75 per cent of Russia’s sanctioned oil, generating a war fund that pays for the missiles and drones used against Ukraine, and that over 72 per cent of the tankers involved are more than fifteen years old, with more than fifty incidents involving the fleet recorded.

The legal basis for the boarding rests on the international law of the sea, with the Ministry of Defence pointing to Article 110 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which permits a warship to exercise a right of visit to verify a vessel’s flag where there are reasonable grounds to suspect it is without nationality. Where a ship is determined to be stateless, the United Kingdom can then exercise powers under its own legislation, including the ship-sanctions provisions in the Russia sanctions regulations and maritime enforcement powers under the Policing and Crime Act.

The United Kingdom has sanctioned almost 600 Russian shadow fleet vessels to date, and the government says the measures are biting, with Russia’s oil revenues down 27 per cent compared with October 2024, the lowest since the start of the war, and ships sanctioned by the UK having carried $1.6 billion less in Russian oil in the first quarter of last year than a year earlier. Today’s action, the Ministry of Defence said, sends a clear message that the United Kingdom will use the full range of legal tools available to enforce sanctions and protect its security.

 

George Allison
George Allison
George Allison is the founder and editor of the UK Defence Journal. He holds a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and specialises in naval and cyber security topics. George has appeared on national radio and television to provide commentary on defence and security issues. Twitter: @geoallison
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114 COMMENTS

    • Interesting that it was now, just after the resignations and months after the bill was passed to let them do it and the big speech about it.

      There had been speculations that they hadn’t done previous because of lack of ships to do it, so could just be that they are last had them available, who knows.

      Either way a positive step, whatever the driver. Now let’s see this happening more often to show Putin that messing with NATO has consequences.

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      • Nave Andromeda.
        Grande Temer
        Grace 1.
        Not all in the Channel sure, and not Russian shadow fleet, which I know was your point. But boarding none the less.
        I don’t believe that the tories have a left wing happy to just basically unilaterally disarm?
        Always my fear whenever Labour are in power, they are held to ransom by their own left wing MPs.

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      • To be fair, it was only June 2024, 3 weeks before the General Election, that the UK started targeting Russian shadow fleet ships with sanctions. It was only in March 2025 that the Govt said the UK armed forces could board sanctioned vessels.
        https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-imposes-first-sanctions-targeting-ships-breaching-russian-oil-restrictions-2024-06-13/

        Also, the Tories boarded 1 ship in the channel. The Nave Andromeda. Totally different scenario though 🙂

        Just a bit of perspective/frame of reference.

      • Difference being they never pledged or banged their chest about boarding Russian vessels, unlike the weasel currently occupying number 10 🙂

    • Because the Russians finally sailed a false-flagged tanker through the Channel.

      Since Starmer’s announcement months ago to seize false-flagged tankers, the Russians have been careful to only sail Russian flagged tankers through the Channel.

      Why they’ve been stupid enough to send a false-flagged one, goodness knows. Blunder? Test to see if Starmer would follow through? 🤷🏻‍♂️

          • Probably because the Sanctions lift was only on oil that was already at sea, so Russia is going to have to go back to more illicit ways of offloading oil?

        • Hi Daniele, folks hope all is well.
          Yes have to agree good point. Also no doubt others on this site will be asking the same question as this: would this have happened if the ship was escorted by a Russian frigate or destroyer? That would certainly be impressive if our magnificent marines took on the task
          Cheers
          George

          • The whole point of the Shadow Fleet is plausible deniability. It’s not Russian flagged, so when it shows up in a port to sell a load of oil which just “fell off the back of a refinery somewhere, honest guv’ we’ll sell it for a knock off rate if you don’t ask to many questions.” Countries like India can buy it without officially breaking a sanction.

            Using a Russian Frigate to escort it destroys that plausible deniability.

        • Maybe they thought it was a Defence Minister decision rather than the PM’s and hoped the recent change/chaos might see a failure to act on the policy?

          That said, as we’ve seen repeatedly (from Salisbury to Ukraine), the Russians are world leaders at bungling and incompetence.

          • And with that, despite the cuts, small size, and the handling of Defence by HMG, our forces are better than people give credit for and remain professional.
            I’m inclined to agree with J, probing for a reaction.

      • What’s this Spock? A civil comment from you?

        I’m going to screenshot this and save it for posterity since it may never happen again 😲

        • I’m only civil when people behave in a civilised manner. That you’re not used to them says everything about your usual posts…

          • And there is the miserable twat I know and love 🥰

            P.S. you are quite uncivil to a lot of people on this site as a matter of fact 😘

            • You’re projecting your miserableness. 🤷🏻‍♂️

              Yeah this site has a disproportionate number of idiots, technophobes, racists and fascists. In fact there’s way more here than on the equivalent USA-based sites. My only explanation being that MAGA are so stupid they’re often functionally illiterate. The UK’s idiots, racists, etc, are more literate – no sure that’s a good thing or not 🤔

              • You forgot to mention the key-board worries who hide behind a pseudonym’s so that they can pretend they are the font of all knowledge but in reality are just looking for attention.

                • You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself, I’m sure attention is just one of the things you’re looking for.

                  • There is that petulant middle child comming out again, next you will be drawing childish cartoons to show how clever you are. You wished I would die from dementia the last time you kindly graced us with an opinion, well sorry to disappoint, still got a couple of marbles rolling around.

                    • News to me that I had a younger sibling 😆
                      Yet again you try at playing Sherlock and instead just look pathetically incompetent. At least you’re consistent.

                      Though you’ve now added lying to your list of undesirable character traits. I did not wish “death by dementia” upon you, or death of any kind.
                      I simply observed your posts are symptomatic of someone with dementia; someone whose marbles have rolled off down the street, into the gutter and down the drain.

                  • Well your commets were late in the evening so I gues you had been on the dutch currage So I will forgive you as we all say things we don’t mean when under the influence. You say you have no yonger siblings yet you seem to be suffering from middle child syndrome, may-be a good talk with your family might help and they can give you the atention you so clearly need. You also said I am a dinosaur and for once we are in full agreement I am an old has-been dinosaur but I think it is better to be an old has-been and a wana-be.

                    • Do tell what “dutch currage” is? Seems you’re the one that’s posting while inebriated.

                      No I don’t respond to posts immediately because I have a full and active life. I don’t depend on a website forum for my sense of purpose like you do.

                      I’m also not suprised at you quoting a supposed ‘syndrome’ for which there is little supporting clinical proof of its existence. But conspiracy theorists always choose to believe what they like rather than what the facts indicate.

                      It’s interesting your obsession with family. It seems you’re the one either have none, or you’ve ostracised by them – perhaps because you’re a git?

                      I said you were a dinosaur, not as a ‘has-been’ as the latter suggests you were once someone. I think ‘never-was’ would be a more accurate portrayal of your sad, non-achieving, existence.

        • Oh look, somebody else too stupid to understand the difference between a sanctioned vessel and a false-flagged vessel.
          Under maritime law you cannot seize a sanctioned vessel (those 98 Russian tankers you just pointed out). But you can seize a false-flagged vessel, which is what the U.K. did.

  4. With this timing, it’s almost inevitable that people will suspect this as being a Starmer response.
    It won’t work….PM, you’re seen as a wet rag with the charisma of a low grade bank clerk.
    However, it’s probably just fortunate timing given the planning needed.
    “Maritime Air Group” There’s another rebranding for my list…
    Curious to know who the “Royal Marine Commando’s” were.
    Four Two.
    Four Three ( I believe they still train for this as well as the nuke side? )
    Or the SBS Sqn currently in role as MCT standby. I understand they rotate and it’s not just M Sqn.
    Looks like all the elements I described a week or so ago, if such an operation were to take place. Both Lynx Wildcat Force and CHF have MCT flights, Chinooks assume came from 7 Sqn as they do this stuff all the time
    Good stuff.

    • While I love a great opportunity to bash Kier Starmer, I think it’s probably more to do with the collapse in oil price than anything to do with the DoS resignation. One can image ever tabloid paper lighting up with tip offs from the top brass is Kier suddenly decided to do operation wag the dog to deflect from the resignations.

      The noose has been gradually tightening on these ships from the Med to now the middle point in and around the North Sea and the final stage will be the Baltic approaches.

      Like it or not the world needed Russian sanctioned oil for the last few months, the calculus is about to change.

    • It’s hard to believe the Russians have goofed by finally sending a false-flagged tanker through the Channel now. Ever since Starmer’s announcement they’ve only sent Russian-flagged vessels.

      One thought is they believe there might actually be an agreement about to occur between the USA and Iran that would open the Straits of Hormuz. A reopening would see a drop in price for crude and reduce the profit from this tanker’s cargo.🤷🏻‍♂️

    • Id like to believe this wasn’t a knee jerk response after the weeks politics. As these operations take a great deal of planning, and has likey been in the works for weeks if not months.

      • Agreed. Which is why i referenced some of the intell feeds used, this stuff doesn’t just pop up out of nowhere. Fascinating the amount of work going on unseen.

  5. It will be interesting to see what happens to the vessel, if the current government has any gonads (big question mark) then they will off load the cargo (if there is any) then sell the vessel for scrap, or they will just detain it for a time then let it go on it way after a week or two (when the press have got board of the story).
    The question has to be asked “why now” is it to show the press we are still in the game after the kick-in they gave the government over Healey resignation, we will just have to wait and see!!!

    • “Now” because this is the first false-flagged vessel to sail into the Channel since Starmer announcement.

  6. Good work. Concern if there is environmental risk or no insurance then cargo needs to be preferable off loaded.

    • Well these false-flagged vessels tend to be old and clapped-out, bought on the cheap since 2022. So off-loading is definitely an option.

    • Maritime interdiction is dangerous and complicated, even if the crew offers no resistance. It requires highly trained personnel and a lot of assets. For example, the only deaths from interdiction operations that have taken place in the last couple of decades weren’t even from enemy action, they were from the boarding process alone.

    • Been replicated many times before mate.
      Chinook and, or, Merlin HC4 for insertion from above.
      Wildcat as overwatch with sniper teams.
      P8 surveillance
      Ships nearby
      MCT training also often uses RHIB, HSIC, and other such craft from the SMG as well ( the element of the RM boats specialisation branch that supports the SBS, name might well have changed though ) so curious to see if any RM boarded via boat, or all from above.
      Wider intelligence of the vessels coming via the JMSC at Portsdown, Oversight via Com Ops at Northwood, and data from NATO, FIOC at Digby, part of MIXG at Collingwood, and so on. Some abbreviations for you there mate. 😉
      Our intelligence apparatus to enable this stuff remains professional and extensive.

      • Cheers D, I’m there now, It’s just off the YOP Portland.

        Your raving reporter Harry the halfwit reporting !

          • Ha, I got you didn’t I !!!!!!!
            Young Offenders Prison. well that’s what I call It.
            Do a Google and look for the little car park next to the engine shed…… I’ll wave !

            • I smiled to myself as I was writing it, yes, thought you’d get one back!
              Thanks I will. I’d heard there was a prison near there but not totally up to speed on the geography. Assume close to the old RNAS and Tristram.

              • Lol.
                Yes, It’s above the old Firing Range… There Is a lot of old Military sites here and some rather large underground Bunkers but I’m parked In a nice little area with a short walk to the Cliff edge wall.
                There’s a small Inshore boat and another larger one but I’m not sure If It’s UK, might be French. Southerland Is to the South (!) and a few RIBs and what looks like an old WW11 Landing craft.
                Sir Tristram Is to my left.
                Merlins doing low circuits.

      • All to take a civilian ship with about dozen crew members from the third world getting paid a pittance.

  8. ‘An anchorage off the south coast of England’
    That has to be either Weymouth Bay or St Helens Roads. Halfwit, you have some scouting to do.

    • Morning mate.
      I can confirm It’s Weymouth Bay.

      Currently I’m sat eating a “Soba Chilli Cup Noodle” with the Tanker just in front of me together with Ledbury and Sutherland plus a couple of smaller boats.

      Come joint me, I’m parked behind the old engine shed on the Incline near the YOP.
      It’s a great view and nice and Sunny.

        • Lol. I have a very expensive Solicitor who lives In Weymouth and I’ve been having meetings with him for a couple of years now.

          “Right place at the right time”

          Two Merlins doing stuff now. Ships engine was still running and a Merlin flew In and hovered a few feet above the bow.

          I have lots of great pics !

      • Great Scott, that was quick.
        Unfortunately I’m a three hour drive from you and have an A level tomorrow, but it’s good to know that the long arm of the UKDJ comments section reaches even unto the Russian Shadow Fleet.

        • Lol.
          To be fair, I had no Idea about this Until I pulled In to a favourite place to look at the view and BOOM, There It all was right In Front of me.
          Portland always has Interesting things every time I visit.

          It really should be a Navy Base and Airport what with everything that happens here.

          • RFA use it, military still train offshore.
            Yes, ideally RNAS would reopen but that costs money and Starmer and his left wing subversives to the military are allergic to that.
            Go look at the far southern tip of the bill, there’s an interesting MoD site there, testing signatures, run by QinetiQ.

            • I was reading that In the week, (I was the only one who made a comment on here !).

              The Bill Is now out of bounds for me as they have Installed APNR and Barriers In the Car Park.
              The Council here seem to hate people In Motorhomes and have made It virtually a no go area.

              It doesn’t stop me visiting but It has restricted the overnight options.

          • You might struggle to fit an airport as the runway at the heliport is one of the shortest in Britain, but it might be worth adding a little extra range if Merlins are going to be doing more work in the Channel.
            Portland is still the best manmade harbour we have, if Euston results in us being able to build floating dry docks it might help sidestep the infrastructure issues for surface vessels at Portsmouth and Devonport.

              • There’s a decent amount of space down at the water line (even if it is mostly scrapheap and a rather beautiful abandoned railway), and by putting the accommodation and workshop spaces on barges more could be saved. The main problem would be access, both roads are narrow and lined with houses.

      • Little bit far for me to join you! Over 250m Enjoy the rays Cloudy and not too warm up north
        Intrigued to know how long they keep it there
        If the govt had any guts there should be a shadowtanker fleet near you now
        Do it every day not wait months since announcement in March and let hundreds of tankers through
        Seems a bit of overkill with a lot of assets involved
        A couple land based helicopters and one RN vessel with Wildcat doing it increasingly regularly would hurt Putin

  9. I hope Hermer was ok with all this fine work! Otherwise all involved could be hounded to their graves for doing something illegal.

  10. Good old express reporting “WW3 fears soar” some of these ‘journalists’ really need to get a grip😂

  11. Actual story, UK commandos raid a Cameroon flagged tanker with Russian oil in it, in a vainglorious attempt to make our reduced military look somehow relevant.

    The fact Starmer is has reduced the DIP makes it clear the UK under the socialists has no intention in getting into an actual fight with with the Russian Military. Just helps its big pals to do so.

    • And yet, in a straight up fight in the air, in the sea, under the sea, or between soldiers, our professionals would make short work of Russians, given their performance in Ukraine.
      So who cares what this is at it’s most basic. I don’t see Russians having the skill.

  12. Hormuz reopens – Starlin grabs a Russian tanker to ‘me too’ look tough now all the big kids have finished their games.

    • Except it hasn’t reopened… Trump has promised 38 times that Iran was about to sign a deal, why should this time be any different? 🤷🏻‍♂️

  14. Distraction tactics from Starmer.

    The video on the BBC article is a bit cringeworthy. Clearly scripted as those shown to be clearing are being carefully videod by a camera person in full view of anyone who might otherwise need cleared!

    • Interesting.
      Yes, the cameraman’s viewpoint is beyond the door that is being approached.
      Love the bit at the end with the ( presumably ) NCA officer sternly inspecting the “Occurance Book ( railway terminology, we had one in each Signal box ) leafing through the pages, which they then blurred out.
      “Your papers…….are not in order!”
      Any chance some of that footage is a training scenario joined with the real Chinook footage?

        • That did occur to me, only the image of the RM ( I don’t know the proper terminology ) “presenting” their MCX in the aim at the entrance to already cleared rooms made it look, ongoing?

          • Too bad transport Helicopters are obsolete and we have too much SF/SOF right?

            Anyway, watched the video, the footage is definitely not of the initial clear. The camera people would be at massive risk of being shot if it was (heaven forbid they set something off). The accommodation they are clearing also looks *very* British MoD.

            I’m going with a mix of live footage, B roll from training exercises and reshooting things after the fact for better angles.

            • Morning.
              Ah, so you read that particular conversation! I’d hoped you would. Had not gone back to see if you’d chipped in.

              I agree. It’s interesting why they feel they need to put this twist on it for PR purposes?
              I don’t recall any such footage for other boardings, nor the real need.

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  17. Looks like a textbook operation, well-planned and very professionally executed. Top marks to the RM and planning team.

    An operation like this would need a lot of planning and co-ordination, not only military, also legal, co-ordination with police, consultation and joint what-if action plans with allies, arrangements for docking and berthing, etc. Suggests that this has been in the offing.for a while and is not directly related to the politics of the last 48 hours, with Healey and Carns going.

    That planning.will have factored in how Russia might respond and what retaliatory moves it could make if it raises the stakes..

    • This would/should have been regularly planned by 42 as part of their training cycle if it falls into their remit. Obviously im not a royal but regular engagement with NCA and other partners for planning exercises should be routine, other units in similar situations do that as a matter of course.

      Anyway. I don’t think HMG necessarily planned this in advance. More likely 42 and the NCA had preempted it long ago and just had to dust their planning off, review it, and execute.

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