A sanctioned Russian tanker that sailed through the English Channel accompanied by a Kremlin warship was allegedly carrying military supplies destined for Vladimir Putin's armed forces, it was claimed today. The vessel, named the Universal, was spotted in the Channel on Wednesday alongside the frigate Admiral Grigorovich and another tanker from Russia's so-called 'shadow fleet'.
Royal Navy Response Criticised
The Royal Navy only managed to deploy RFA Tideforce, an auxiliary tanker equipped with light defensive weapons, which followed the three-ship flotilla past Dover without intervening. This occurred despite Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer giving approval last month for Britain's commandos to board and halt shadow fleet vessels passing through UK waters in an attempt to 'go after' sanction-breaking ships 'even harder'.
Secret Cargo Revealed
Outrage is expected to intensify following claims about the Universal's secret cargo. A NATO maritime security source told The i Paper that the tanker was transporting oil, supplies, and spare parts for the direct use of Russia's army. The source indicated these items were intended for Russian military ships 'operating at a distance'.
The Universal was followed by the Enigma, a second sanctioned Russian tanker sailing under a fake Cameroon flag. The Universal had departed from a port near Saint Petersburg at the end of last month amid Ukrainian drone attacks on ports in the region before picking up its warship escort in the Baltic Sea on April 2.
Background of Sanctions
The Foreign Office sanctioned the Universal in September for its role in exporting sanctioned Russian oil to fund Putin's war in Ukraine. However, the NATO source revealed the ship was carrying a more nefarious cargo this time. Pictures suggested it was not fully loaded, which may indicate it was forced to leave prematurely to escape Ukrainian attacks.
Shadow Fleet Operations
Moscow's shadow fleet is reported to consist of more than a thousand ageing tankers that illicitly ship oil and other goods out of Russia by flying the flags of other countries. This practice aims to evade Western sanctions imposed since the invasion of Ukraine began. While JEF countries Finland, Sweden, and Estonia have recently intercepted suspected shadow tankers in the Baltic, many have traversed the Channel without challenge.
Political Reactions
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch branded Sir Keir 'all mouth and no trousers' on defence, accusing the Prime Minister of posturing on the world stage over the Middle East war while failing to rearm Britain. Sir Keir is currently on a tour of the Gulf.
In contrast, Defence Secretary John Healey claimed Russia's decision to deploy the frigate to accompany the Universal and Enigma tankers indicated the UK's approach was having an effect. Speaking after a Downing Street press conference where he revealed British armed forces had foiled a Russian submarine operation in UK waters, Healey stated: 'We've got a strong history as a country for sanctioning ships, individuals, and with allies.'
Government Claims of Impact
Healey continued: 'We've seen over 200 of the Russian sanctioned shadow fleet put out of action and forced to anchor, putting more pressure on Putin's ability to fund his illegal war in Ukraine, and we've seen the oil revenues that Russia takes from the illegal trade drop by a quarter.' He added that more action could be taken, including military options to interdict shadow fleet vessels with allies.
The Defence Secretary suggested that if UK actions are making Russia re-route its shadow ships or escort them with warships, then the military posture and work with JEF allied nations is having an impact. 'We aim with others to put more pressure in the coming weeks and months on that activity,' Healey concluded.
Prime Minister's Stance
Sir Keir gave approval for the UK to start seizing shadow fleet vessels as he travelled to Helsinki, Finland, for a summit with national leaders from the Joint Expeditionary Force. Announcing his plan for commando raids in March, Sir Keir said: 'Putin is rubbing his hands at the war in the Middle East because he thinks higher oil prices will let him line his pockets. That's why we're going after his shadow fleet even harder, not just keeping Britain safe but starving Putin's war machine of the dirty profits that fund his barbaric campaign in Ukraine.'
British forces have already been involved in tracking shadow fleet vessels for several years and have supported operations by other countries to seize the ships. The Prime Minister emphasised that Putin and his cronies 'should be in no doubt, we will always defend our sovereignty and stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.'
