UK Armed Forces Deal Another Blow to Russian Shadow Fleet in Channel

British armed forces have intercepted a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the English Channel during the early hours of Sunday morning, as confirmed by Sir Keir Starmer. This operation, which lasted a grueling six hours, saw Royal Marine Commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency board the vessel, aided by the RAF. The ship, named Smyrtos, is now being held and monitored off the southern coast of England while investigations are underway, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Sir Keir Starmer emphasized the significance of the operation, stating, “This successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin’s war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide.” Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis added that Russia “relies on its shadow fleet to fund their conflict in Ukraine,” and this interdiction significantly undermines Putin’s efforts in his illegal war.

This operation was not carried out in isolation; it was backed by aircraft from the Maritime Air Group, including an RAF P-8 aircraft, and naval vessels HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury. The MoD highlighted that Russia has been operating a “shadow fleet” of tankers with dubious ownership structures to dodge international sanctions on its oil exports. This shadow fleet, comprising over 700 vessels, is responsible for transporting a staggering 75% of Russia’s sanctioned oil, providing vital support to the Kremlin. The UK has already imposed sanctions on more than 500 vessels, effectively barring them from UK ports and prohibiting British firms and individuals from providing financial, insurance, or brokerage services to ships involved in supplying or delivering Russian oil. The government has made it clear they are targeting Russia’s oil revenues to “choke off funding for Russia’s war machine” in Ukraine.

The operation was carried out in close coordination with French authorities, reflecting the recent support the UK has extended to its allies. French President Emmanuel Macron noted that on June 1, his military had similarly intercepted a sanctioned oil tanker believed to be part of Russia’s shadow fleet, with UK assistance. A British helicopter had also lent support during that operation, as reported by the UK Ministry of Defence.

This breaking news story is still developing, and more details are expected to emerge shortly. For those wanting to stay updated, you can receive Breaking News alerts on your smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App or follow @BBCBreaking on X for the latest updates. Meanwhile, a campaigner is urging the government to resume investigations into alleged encounters, while allies of the former defence secretary claim that the Treasury attempted to shut down such discussions.

In other news, Swindon is reportedly “rapidly establishing itself as Britain’s military drone manufacturing hub,” while some relatives of Private Thomas Whitaker had never met before his burial ceremony in Belgium.

Kaynak: Orijinal Haber