British armed forces intercept Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in Channel
Keir Starmer says operation involving National Crime Agency has delivered ‘yet another blow’ to Russia and Putin
TL;DR
- British commando forces boarded and took control of the oil tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel.
- The Smyrtos was sailing under a Cameroonian flag but was legally stateless.
- The tanker carried over 100,000 tonnes of Russian crude oil and is part of Russia's 'shadow fleet'.
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer directed the operation, calling it a blow to Russia's war funding.
- The operation involved Royal Marines, the National Crime Agency, and support from various naval and air assets.
- Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude and urged further legislative steps against the shadow fleet.