British special forces are prepared to storm Putin’s shadow fleet | UK | News
British special forces are lining up to attack Russian shadow fleet ships, The Times reports. Elite soldiers trained to land on ships from helicopters and capture their crews could target hundreds of illegal oil tankers after the government laid out a new legal basis for raids.
A defense source confirmed options were being developed for a maritime seizure, adding: “If you want to increase economic pressure on Russia, it’s like operators quickly turning to illegal oil tankers.” The Special Boat Service (SBS), the Royal Navy’s answer to the Special Air Service (SAS), is likely to lead the missions, but no time frame has been given for when they will be deployed.
According to the Royal Navy, SBS commandos are “among the British army’s most elite and skilled soldiers” and specialize in daring undercover raids that “use the element of surprise”. Details of the preparations have emerged as Britain’s top military chief admitted the Ministry of Defense (MoD) does not have the money to meet all its military objectives. Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton’s warning comes after The Express reported the department faces a £28bn funding gap over the next four years.
Moscow lashes out at Defense Minister Healey
His comments came shortly after Moscow attacked defense minister John Healey, who said he wanted to arrest President Putin and hold him accountable for war crimes. Maria Zakharova of Russia’s foreign ministry on Monday described Healey’s remarks as “the wet dreams of British perverts.”
SBS officers are trained to seize ships, tankers or platforms by landing on deck, often from modified helicopters. Like the SAS, recruits go through a grueling selection process but are then trained with additional skills in underwater exploration, demolition, canoeing and diving.
To date there have been no reports of British military personnel raiding Russian shadow fleet ships but ministers have spent recent weeks exploring what legal options they have for operations. UK authorities believe they have found grounds under the Sanctions and Money Laundering Act to authorize soldiers to board and detain oil tankers, a move that could lead to the reporting of hundreds of sanctioned and stateless shadow tankers.
At least 107 UK approved ships sailing under false state flags
Analysis by The Times found that at least 107 ships sanctioned by the UK, including ships exported from former flag countries, were sailing under false state flags and some were flying flags with non-existent shipping records. According to the legal mechanism set by the government, such ships can be the main target of SBS raids and seizures.
Last week Healey vowed to “bust” the nefarious network of ships after British forces helped the US Navy attack the Marinera tanker, which is sanctioned by the US for carrying oil to Venezuela, Russia and Iran. US Navy SEALs rushed aboard from helicopters and took control of the ship last Wednesday, while UK spy planes and support ships were deployed to conduct reconnaissance and provide assistance.
Another source suggested that any future raid on Russian ships involving British special forces would likely be a joint operation involving Royal Navy warships, Royal Air Force spy planes and possible cooperation with Scandinavian NATO allies. Such an operation would be “complex” and a “major joint operation”, the source said, adding: “There is a wider desire across Europe to do more, so the UK could contribute more to other European countries’ operations or do something jointly. Even the Americans, who have all the assets in the world, still asked for our support.”
To seize a ship, the UK must prove that the ship is legally stateless. This could mean that it is not legally registered in any country, is flying a false flag, or has been rejected by the country under whose flag it sails.
