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British armed forces intercepted and boarded a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the Channel in the early hours of Sunday, Keir Starmer has confirmed.
In a six-hour operation, the first of its kind to be led by the UK, Royal Marine commandos and officers from the National Crime Agency boarded and took control of the vessel, Smyrtos, which was sailing under a Cameroonian flag.
According to the tracking website Marine Traffic, the vessel is now anchored off the coast of Dorset, near Weymouth. Authorities said it would be monitored for environmental or safety concerns.
British authorities say the Smyrtos is one of 700 vessels in a shadow fleet responsible for carrying 75% of Russia’s oil exports, which are under international sanctions. The fleet provides Russia with what analysts say is a critical lifeline, allowing oil to be sold and funds generated to continue its war against Ukraine.
The operation on Sunday morning was the first time the UK had led on such an endeavour, previously providing support to the French military when it carried out something similar in the Atlantic.
Writing on X, Starmer, said he had directed UK armed forces to intercept the oil tanker as it attempted to sail into the Channel.
“This successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fuelling [Vladimir] Putin’s war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide,” the prime minister said. “I want to thank those involved, including our armed forces and law enforcement officers who keep this country safe 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”
Dan Jarvis, who became defence secretary on Thursday after the resignation of John Healey, said: “Operations like this require skill, professionalism and courage. I pay tribute to our armed forces personnel and all those involved.
“Russia relies on its shadow fleet to fund their conflict in Ukraine and our interdiction delivers a blow to Putin’s illegal war.”
The Ministry of Defence said the military operation had been supported by aircraft from the Maritime Air Group (chinooks, Merlin Mk4 and Wildcat), an RAF P-8 aircraft, as well as the navy vessels HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury.
Calling it a “blow to Putin’s war chest”, the MoD said the operation had been “conducted in close cooperation with the French”. It said the UK was a leader in tackling the shadow fleet, having already placed sanctions on more than 500 vessels. “These sanctions are working,” the ministry said, with Russia’s oil and gas revenues falling by 24% year-on-year in 2025.
Starmer announced in March he had granted permission for the British military to board ships under sanctions that were passing through UK waters.
Writing on LinkedIn, the attorney general, Richard Hermer, said: “This government made clear that we would pursue Russia’s shadow fleet under the full force of international law.
“Russia relies on their shadow fleet tankers to fund their conflict in Ukraine, and this expertly delivered interdiction strikes another blow at Putin’s war machine. I pay tribute to the extraordinary courage and professional of our armed forces personnel, and everyone else involved.”
Speaking to the BBC, Al Carns, who resigned as armed forces minister on Thursday night, said: “While we were sleeping safely last night, there were marines and navy and air force personnel boarding helicopters, flying low level over the sea, rearing up before the ship, fast roping on to the ship, securing it, and then taking it into our territorial waters. An amazing operation, excellently prosecuted by our Royal Marines and others.”
Asked why action like this had not been taken before, Carns said there had previously been a Russian frigate in the Channel protecting some of those ships coming through. “It was about hitting the right parameters to make sure that everything from legal to the cargo met the requirements for boarding,” he said.
“We’ve actually helped lots of other nations do these boardings – America, France, and others. And I think now that the first one has happened, we’re probably going to see more, should the opportunity to present themselves.”
