Royal Marine commandos have boarded a Russian shadow fleet vessel in the English Channel, the Prime Minister announced.
Operation Details
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed that soldiers and specially trained law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency intercepted a sanctioned oil tanker during a six-hour operation in the early hours of this morning. This marks the first UK-led operation of its kind.
The vessel, identified as the Smyrtos, will be provisionally moved to an anchorage off the south coast of England and monitored for any environmental or safety concerns.
Supporting Assets
According to the MoD, the operation was supported by aircraft from the Maritime Air Group, including Chinooks, Merlin Mk4, and Wildcat helicopters, as well as an RAF P-8 aircraft. Naval support was provided by HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury.
Prime Minister's Statement
Sir Keir Starmer said in a statement: “This operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fuelling President Putin’s war in Ukraine that they cannot hide. I want to pay tribute to all those involved, including our armed forces and law enforcement officers who keep this country safe 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”
This is a breaking news story. More updates to follow.
