UK to start intercepting Russian shadow fleet tankers
Over 600 Russian tankers under EU, UK, and US sanctions (Photo: Getty Images)
The UK will intercept and inspect vessels from Russia’s shadow fleet in its waters to increase European pressure on the Kremlin, which is funding its war against Ukraine through smuggled oil exports, according to the office of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The statement said that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin is rubbing his hands in anticipation of war in the Middle East because he believes it will drive up oil prices.
“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,” Starmer’s office said.
According to the statement, this measure means Russian vessels seeking to avoid interception will have to stay away from British waters, such as the English Channel, leading to increased shipping costs.
Starmer’s office clarified that military and law enforcement agencies are training for various scenarios. This includes boarding vessels that refuse to comply, are armed, and use high-tech methods to evade capture.
The statement came ahead of Starmer’s visit to the Joint Expeditionary Force summit in Helsinki on Thursday. Bloomberg explains that this group comprises Northern European countries and is working to halt Russia’s shadow fleet.
The BBC previously reported that in recent weeks, British naval forces have been assisting Joint Expeditionary Force member countries, including Finland, Sweden, and Estonia, in tracking shadow fleet vessels.
600+ Russian tankers have been sanctioned by the EU, the UK, and the US due to the war against Ukraine. Of these, over 570 were blacklisted by the EU starting in June 2024.
Seizure of Russian tankers
The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine recently reported on the Kremlin’s plans to increase the number of oil tankers sailing under the Russian flag. Moscow took this step due to frequent detentions of vessels carrying Russian oil.
Putin’s aide Nikolai Patrushev also recently announced that Russia plans to deploy warships and mobile fire teams to protect tankers and other shadow fleet vessels. The reason is the threat of sabotage and attacks on Russian tankers at sea.
Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently announced that Ukraine, together with the EU, is working on legislative changes to allow the confiscation of Russian and Iranian oil from shadow-fleet vessels.
