British forces intercepted an oil tanker from Russia’s shadow fleet on Sunday, an effort the Ministry of Defense said “will disrupt [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s war chest” in the conflict with Ukraine.
A release from the ministry said the operation took place in the English Channel, south of the British coast. British commandos and officers from the National Crime Agency boarded the tanker Smyrtos in an effort that took 6 hours.
Russia’s shadow fleet of more than 700 vessels carries more than 75% of the country’s oil currently sanctioned as a result of the war in Ukraine. Much of the money earned from the oil goes toward funding Russia’s four-year invasion of Ukraine.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the interception of the tanker was “yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin’s war in Ukraine that they cannot hide.” Starmer released a video from the operation in a post on X.
Despite Putin’s best efforts to evade sanctions, we will not let him get away with it. pic.twitter.com/IIW3Cv2ENQ— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 14, 2026
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a statement thanking Britain for its “principled resolved” in the operation.
“It was Russia’s hubris, fueled by high oil and gas revenues, that paved the way for this war, and every decision by partners that deprives Russia of money also limits the war itself,” he wrote in a post on X.
Zelensky also called on Europe to pass laws allowing Russian oil tankers to be intercepted and oil shipments to be restricted.
“This will certainly help bring peace closer,” he wrote.
Britain’s Defense Ministry said the operation to detain Smyrtos was supported by various aircraft — including a P-8 marine patrol and reconnaissance aircraft — and the frigate HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury, a mine countermeasures vessel.
