UK forces have intercepted the vessel SMYRTOS, which officials say is part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” during a six-hour operation in the English Channel.
The boarding, which involved Royal Marine Commandos and National Crime Agency officers, marks the first UK-led mission of this type against a Russian-linked vessel since the start of the Ukraine conflict.
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According to Ministry of Defence statement, the military and law enforcement team boarded SMYRTOS on the grounds of suspected sanctions evasion, amid ongoing efforts by Russia to move sanctioned oil.
The intervention comes following a decision in March allowing British Armed Forces and law enforcement to board such vessels under international law.
Aircraft from the Maritime Air Group, including Chinooks, Merlin Mk4, and Wildcat helicopters, as well as an RAF P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, supported the operation.
HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury, both Royal Navy ships, also took part, the MoD stated.
After being intercepted, SMYRTOS will remain anchored off the South Coast of England as authorities monitor the ship for potential safety or environmental issues.
The enforcement activity was conducted in international waters and, officials state, complied with both domestic and international law.
The action forms part of wider UK efforts to curb the Russian “shadow fleet”, a group of over 700 vessels said to carry approximately 75% of Russia’s sanctioned oil exports and support funding for military equipment used in Ukraine.
In the first quarter of 2025, ships sanctioned by the UK are reported to have transported $1.6bn less of Russian oil compared to the same period in the previous year.
UK officials highlight that the country has so far sanctioned almost 600 Russian vessels linked to the shadow fleet, with more than 500 vessels sanctioned before the latest action.
The recent boarding was coordinated closely with French authorities and builds on previous UK support for allies interdicting shadow fleet ships, including missions alongside US and French forces.
In April this year, former UK Defence Secretary John Healey admitted that Russian submarines have been operating in and around UK waters near undersea cables and infrastructure for around a month.
