According to the MoD, the operation was supported by aircraft from the Maritime Air Group (Chinooks, Merlin Mk4 and Wildcat), an RAF P-8 aircraft, and HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury
UK forces have intercepted a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the English channel for the first time, according to Sir Keir Starmer.
Writing on X, the prime minister said the operation “delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fuelling Putin’s war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide”.
He added: “I want to thank those involved, including our Armed Forces and law enforcement officers who keep this country safe 24 hours a day, 365 days a year”.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Royal Marine commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency boarded a sanctioned oil tanker during a six-hour operation – the first UK-led operation of its kind.
The vessel Smyrtos will be provisionally moved to an anchorage off the south coast of England and be monitored for any environmental or safety concerns.
According to the MoD, the operation was supported by aircraft from the Maritime Air Group (Chinooks, Merlin Mk4 and Wildcat), an RAF P-8 aircraft, and HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury.
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis said: “Operations like this require skill, professionalism and courage. I pay tribute to our armed forces personnel and all those involved. Russia relies on its shadow fleet to fund their conflict in Ukraine and our interdiction delivers a blow to Putin’s illegal war.”
It comes after Russian state-controlled television has demanded Vladimir Putin launch a deadly assault on Britain to obliterate the factory producing Storm Shadow missiles. The dictator’s propaganda mouthpiece Vladimir Solovyov urged an attack on the manufacturing facilities, which are primarily located in Stevenage.
Military chief Sir Richard Knighton warned Russia was “raising the stakes” and “risks crossing the line”, as Starmer pledged the Defence Investment Plan would be published within the next month.
He told LBC: “We do have to be ready… to deter, you have to be ready”, adding: “Our intelligence and the intelligence of other countries is that Russia could attack Nato as early as 2030, so that is why we need to be ready.”