Video available: Royal Marine commandos board Russian shadow fleet vessel

UK ARMED FORCES have intercepted a sanctioned shadow fleet oil tanker attempting to pass through the English Channel, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said.

The operation lasted six hours and was supported with aircraft from the Maritime Air Group, an RAF P-8 aircraft, as well as the vessels HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury.

In a statement, MoD said the vessel, Smyrtos, will be “provisionally moved to an anchorage off the South Coast of England and will be monitored for any environmental or safety concerns”.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he directed the armed forces to make the move in the early hours of this morning.

“This successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin’s war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide,” he said in a post on X.

“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.”

This morning, UK forces boarded a Russian tanker in the English Channel that was secretly helping to bankroll Putin's war in Ukraine.

The first operation of its kind led by British forces, and a clear message: there is nowhere to hide. pic.twitter.com/RQdw7bmuQw

— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) June 14, 2026

MoD said the operation was the first UK-led one of its kind.

“The vessel SMYRTOS was boarded by Royal Marine Commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency, despite Russia’s best efforts to evade sanctions and continue fuelling its barbaric war with Ukraine,” it said.

“The Prime Minister agreed in March that British Armed Forces and law enforcement officers were able to board shadow fleet vessels, in accordance with international law.”

Irish legislation to allow the Defence Forces to board shadow fleets passed committee stage in the Dáil on Wednesday.