Britain detained a sanctioned oil tanker in the English Channel on Sunday over suspected links to Russia's shadow fleet. The action targets vessels evading sanctions on oil shipments tied to the war in Ukraine.
British armed forces boarded and detained the vessel, the Smyrtos, in what the Defence Ministry described as the first UK-led operation of its kind. The tanker will be held and monitored off the south coast of England while authorities investigate.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the operation delivers another blow to Russia. He added that those fueling the war in Ukraine cannot hide.
The effort took place in close coordination with French authorities. UK officials said such actions directly target resources sustaining Russia's aggression in Ukraine and reduce its capacity to threaten security in Europe and beyond.
Russia is believed to rely on a fleet of hundreds of ships to evade sanctions imposed over its war against Ukraine.
