First Russian shadow fleet vessel enters Channel since Smyrtos boarding

A Russian-flagged ship called Forwarder entered the Channel on Wednesday evening, marking the first time a vessel from Russia's shadow fleet has done so since being boarded by Smyrtos. The Forwarder is part of a clandestine fleet carrying 75% of Russia's sanctioned oil. A Russian warship, Admiral Grigorovich, was previously involved in an incident with a British yacht and remains near the location. In March, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced that British armed forces can now board sanctioned vessels passing through their waters if they are not operating according to international law. However, experts believe it is unlikely the UK or France would attempt to intercept the Forwarder due to its Russian flag and potential escort by a warship. The incident raises concerns about escalation.

British armed forces, in a six-hour operation led by the UK, intercepted and boarded a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker named Smyrtos in the Channel early Sunday morning. Royal Marine commandos and National Crime Agency officers took control of the vessel, which was sailing under a Cameroonian flag and is now anchored off the coast of Dorset. This operation, described as a blow to Russia's ability to fund its war in Ukraine, marks the first time the UK has led such an endeavor. Authorities stated the Smyrtos is part of a fleet carrying a significant portion of Russia's sanctioned oil. The Ministry of Defence confirmed the operation was conducted in cooperation with France and aims to disrupt Russia's oil and gas revenues.

British forces boarded and seized a Russian shadow-fleet oil tanker, the Smyrtos, in the English Channel on Sunday. The operation, confirmed by the UK Ministry of Defence, lasted six hours. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated the seizure delivers a blow to Russia and those funding its war in Ukraine, while Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis highlighted the operation's impact on Russia's ability to fund its conflict. The vessel will be moved to an anchorage off the South Coast of England and monitored for environmental or safety concerns. This action is part of a broader effort by the UK and other countries to crack down on Russia's "shadow fleet," which is believed to be used to evade international sanctions related to the war in Ukraine.

A British couple's holiday yacht, the Bright Future, had a tense encounter with the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich in the English Channel. Jane and Alan Kelvey were sailing towards France when the warship allegedly fired warning shots after sounding its horn multiple times. The Kelveys maintain they had the right of way and were not on a collision course, while Russia claims the yacht failed to respond to warnings and was on a direct course towards them. The incident occurred approximately 20 nautical miles off the Isle of Wight during a period of strained Anglo-Russian relations. The British Ministry of Defence has described it as a "nautical incident."

British retirees Jane and Alan Kelvey were on their yacht, Bright Future, in the English Channel when a Russian frigate, the Admiral Grigorovich, fired warning shots. The incident occurred on Tuesday, approximately 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight. The Kelveys stated the warship fired four or five shots after attempts to communicate with their vessel, which they claim was not in danger or adrift as the Russian Ministry of Defence asserted. The couple, who were sailing from England to France, expressed a desire for the incident not to be exaggerated, emphasizing they did not want it to escalate into a larger conflict. The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed the warning shots were fired to prevent a potential collision after the Russian vessel attempted to contact the yacht. The Kelveys contacted UK Coastguard, and a British patrol vessel later gathered details.

British Royal Marines, supported by the National Crime Agency, seized the Russian-linked oil tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel on Sunday. The tanker, carrying 700,000 barrels of Russian oil and sailing under a Cameroonian flag, is suspected of breaching sanctions. This marks the first UK-led operation to board and detain a vessel from Russia's "shadow fleet," a network used to circumvent Western sanctions. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated the operation is a setback for Moscow's war funding efforts. An Indian national was arrested on suspicion of sanctions offenses. The seizure follows new UK powers to detain sanctioned vessels in British waters and is intended to disrupt Russia's oil revenue streams.