In brief
The UK seized the Russian tanker MT Smyrtos in the English Channel, accusing its captain of breaching sanctions. President Putin warned of retaliation, calling the action piracy. The UK insists its operation followed international law and is part of a broader effort to curb Russia’s shadow fleet, which ships a large share of Soviet oil. EU sanctions have already cut a fleet of over 630 vessels, and European navies have boarded Russian‑linked tankers this year.
Britain says it acted lawfully when seizing the MT Smyrtos, a Russian tanker linked to the Kremlin’s shadow fleet, after Ukraine‑war sanctions were breached.
The 3,200‑tonne tanker had been anchored off Weymouth when Royal Marines Commandos boarded the ship on 15 June, charging its captain, Ajay Pant, with violations of Russian sanctions for carrying oil that the EU and UK prohibit.
President Vladimir Putin warned that Western countries would respond in kind if more vessels were seized, branding the UK’s action as piracy. The UK Government maintains that its raid was “in full accordance with international law” and part of a broader effort to curtail the shadow fleet that ships up to 75 % of sanctioned Russian oil.
The shadow fleet is estimated at more than 700 vessels, using opaque ownership structures to hide the origin of cargo. The 2024 EU sanctions list now contains over 630 ships, and several European navies have boarded suspected Russian‑linked tankers this year.
The tanker remains detained at a port near Weymouth under tight scrutiny by the Department of Transport; 22 of the original 25 crew members have already been repatriated.
EU foreign‑affairs spokesperson Anitta Hipper said the bloc would continue to enforce sanctions and uphold maritime law, despite Moscow’s threat of retaliation.
