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Royal Marines 42 Commando carry out a maritime interception operation via helicopter against the vessel "CMR Smirtos," which was sailing in the English Channel under a falsified Cameroonian flag, on June 14 (local time). / Photo by AFP, Yonhap News

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the British military seized a tanker on June 14 (local time) suspected of transporting oil in violation of anti-Russian sanctions, identifying the vessel as part of Russia’s "shadow fleet."

According to the BBC and The Washington Post, British Royal Marines commandos—backed by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Royal Air Force (RAF)—approached the tanker "Smirtos" via helicopter in the English Channel during the early hours of the morning, fast-roping onto the deck to take control of the vessel.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated that this marks the nation's first enforcement operation targeting the shadow fleet, adding that the vessel will be detained and monitored off the southern coast of England while an investigation is underway.

The NCA confirmed it detained a 38-year-old Indian crew member on suspicion of violating Russian sanctions regulations. The agency added that 24 other crew members of Georgian and Indian nationalities remain on board, cooperating with the investigation.

The Russian government has not issued an official response to the incident. Moscow has previously condemned similar vessel interceptions as unlawful acts bordering on international piracy.

"This successful operation deals another blow to Russia," Prime Minister Starmer emphasized. "It serves as a stark reminder that those backing Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine have nowhere left to hide."

Footage released by the MoD on the same day showed armed personnel fast-roping from a helicopter to board the ship.

Separate footage captured commandos clearing the vessel’s cabins, while NCA officials combed through shipping documents and cargo logs.

Russia has long deployed a "shadow fleet" of aging, covertly owned tankers to circumvent international sanctions slapped on its oil exports.

The MoD explained that this fleet consists of more than 700 vessels handling approximately 75 percent of Russia’s sanctioned oil transport, serving as a critical financial lifeline for Moscow.

Prime Minister Starmer previously announced in March that the British military had been granted the authority to board sanctioned vessels transiting through UK territorial waters.

The MoD stated that it has blacklisted more than 500 ships under its sanctions regime to date.

                                                                                                             Kim Hyun-min