Handout photo issued by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of British armed forces intercepting a Russian shadow fleet vessel in the Channel in the early hours of Sunday. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Royal Marine commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency boarded a sanctioned oil tanker during a six-hour operation – the first UK-led operation of its kind. Issue date: Sunday June 14, 2026. PA Photo. The vessel Smyrtos will be provisionally moved to an anchorage off the south coast of England and be monitored for any environmental or safety concerns. According to the MoD, the operation was supported by aircraft from the Maritime Air Group (Chinooks, Merlin Mk4 and Wildcat), an RAF P-8 aircraft, and HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury. In footage released by the MoD, personnel are shown boarding the vessel in the dark by fast-roping from a CH-47 Chinook helicopter. Photo credit should read: LPhot Hutchins/MoD Crown copyright/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. (Image: LPhot Hutchins/MoD Crown copyright/PA Wire)
A 38-year-old man has been arrested after a shadow Russian oil tanker was intercepted in the Channel in a major blow to Vladimir Putin.
The individual, an Indian national, was detained on suspicion of suspected sanctions offences under the Russia Regulations. The vessel SMYRTOS was intercepted on Sunday morning, June 14, in what has been hailed as the first operation of its kind.
The seizure has been labelled as a significant blow to “Putin’s illegal war” and praised by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who paid tribute to all those involved. A former commander, however, has blasted the move as a ‘cynical ploy’ from the PM.
He told the Express: “We’ve had well over 100 [shadow fleet vessels] pass us since we last said we were going to do something about it in March, and we haven’t.
“There’s just no way that the perfect one happened to pop up just as everything else is descending into farce.
“So, this is a deeply cynical ploy to make defence look robust, to make Starmer look robust.
“But there’s a conflict, because it’s also the right thing to do.”
In a post on X, the National Crime Agency announced: “This morning, NCA officers worked alongside partners such as the British Armed Forces to board and seize the SMYRTOS – a sanctioned Russian shadow fleet oil tanker intercepted in the English Channel.
“A 38-year-old Indian national man has now been arrested by NCA officers on suspicion of suspected sanctions offences under the Russia Regulations. He has been taken into custody, where he will be interviewed by NCA investigators. Our investigation continues.”
The six-hour military operation was supported by aircraft from the Maritime Air Group (Chinooks, Merlin Mk4 and Wildcat), an RAF P-8 aircraft, along with HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “This operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling 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.”
Officers board the vessel in a video released by the National Crime Agency (Image: NCA/X)
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis said: “Operations like this require skill, professionalism and courage. I pay tribute to our Armed Forces personnel and all those involved.
“Russia relies on its shadow fleet to fund their conflict in Ukraine and our interdiction delivers a blow to Putin’s illegal war.”
According to the Government, the SMYRTOS will be temporarily relocated to an anchorage off the South Coast of England, where it will be closely monitored for any environmental or safety risks.
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.