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The British armed forces have intercepted the sanctioned oil tanker in a bid to disrupt the oil revenue that helps fund Russia's war in Ukraine.
UK forces intercepted the vessel sailing off the south coast of England. British forces have intercepted a suspected Russia n " shadow fleet" oil tanker in the English Channel.
The UK Defence Ministry called the operation "the first UK-led operation of its kind," while Prime Minister Keir Starmer said it was "another blow to Russia.
"The tanker will be detained and monitored off the south coast of England as investigations continue. British armed forces have intercepted a sanctioned Russian oil tanker in the English Channel, leading for the first time an operation to disrupt the oil revenue that helps fund Russia's war in Ukraine. British Prime Sir Minister Keir Starmer said the tanker is being investigated by officials, who suspect it is part of a Russian "shadow fleet".
The UK government previously said the shadow fleet transports oil to evade international sanctions placed on Russian exports to cut off funding for the war in Ukraine. The vessel Smyrtos, sailing under a Cameroon flag, was boarded by British forces in the early hours on Sunday, in what the country's Defence Ministry called "the first UK-led operation of its kind.
""This successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fuelling Putin's war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide," Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a post on X. Video of the raid released by the government showed British commandos rappelling onto the vessel, while National Crime Agency officials were seen searching through documentation. Reuters: Leon Neal, fileUkraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X that he was grateful to Britain for the tanker's detention.
"Europe urgently needs to take legislative steps to enable not only the detention of tankers and restrictions on oil shipments, but also the confiscation of the oil they carry. This will certainly help bring peace closer," Mr Zelenskyy said on X.The tanker will be detained and monitored off the south coast of England as investigations continue, a government statement said, adding that the operation was conducted in close coordination with the French.
It comes as Sir Keir, who is facing a potential leadership challenge and lost his defence secretary last week over a dispute about military spending, had in March given permission for the British military to board and detain Russian ships.have also said shadow fleets help Moscow export oil despite Western sanctionsUntil Sunday, Britain's involvement in efforts to stop the vessels had been limited to supporting French and US operations.
Russia Vessel Fleet Ship Oil Tanker Shadow Fleet Ukraine Putin War Armed Forces
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