The tanker “Smyrtos” was intercepted in the English Channel, according to the UK Ministry of Defence. The vessel is now to be detained off the south coast of England and monitored during the investigation.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on X that he had ordered the armed forces to stop the tanker. The operation was another blow against Russia over its war of aggression against Ukraine. “This successful operation deals another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin’s war in Ukraine that we offer them no safe haven,” Starmer wrote.
In March, Starmer agreed to allow British forces and police to seize sanctioned ships in UK waters. Britain had previously taken part in French operations to detain Russian shadow tankers, most recently on May 31 in the Atlantic.
Source: www.bbc.com
