The government has admitted that sanctioned Russian vessels have been crossing British waters on a daily basis since new interception measures were introduced in March. Minister for Armed Forces Alistair Carns revealed that 63 ships from Russia's so-called 'shadow fleet' have transited UK waters, yet none have been boarded or intercepted.
New Powers Yet to Be Used
In March, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) was granted new authorisation to use armed forces to board sanctioned vessels in British territorial waters. However, Minister Carns told Parliament that each sanctioned vessel presents unique legal and policy challenges, which has prevented any boarding actions so far. He stressed that the government is actively monitoring the situation and working within international law.
Submarine Activity Raises Alarms
Separately, a Russian attack submarine and two spy submersibles were tracked for a month over critical undersea cables in the North Atlantic, heightening security concerns. The MoD stated it is actively disrupting and deterring shadow fleet operations, having challenged over 700 suspected vessels since October 2024.
The admission has sparked criticism from opposition MPs, who argue that the new powers are ineffective if not enforced. Labour's shadow defence secretary called for urgent action to protect UK maritime security and prevent further Russian incursions.
