British special forces finally cleared to raid Russian shadow fleet | UK | News
Commandos from Britain’s elite Special Boat Service will be unleashed on Russian shadow fleet tankers after Sir Keir Starmer cleared the legal hurdles that have tied the hands of military chiefs for months.
The decision marks a serious hardening of the UK’s stance and comes at a time when the pressure to act has never been greater. Russia’s war machine has quietly fattened by the rise in oil prices triggered by the Iran crisis, and the stay-behind fleet has become an even more valuable financial lifeline for the Kremlin.
“We live in an increasingly unstable and dangerous world, facing threats from different fronts every day,” Starmer said.
“Putin is joining the war in the Middle East because he thinks high oil prices will allow him to line his pockets.
“That’s why we’re going after his shadow fleet even harder, not only keeping Britain safe but depriving Putin’s war machine of the dirty profits that fund his barbaric campaign.”
What changes and what was blocked before?
Until now, government lawyers had effectively closed the door on any action by special forces against Kremlin ships in British waters.
The Royal Navy’s role was limited to standing guard as Russian ships transited the English Channel; this was a passive stance that visibly frustrated the allies.
The Joint Expeditionary Force summit in Helsinki on Thursday will be the stage where Starmer will make the announcement official.
England is trying to catch up
The announcement comes at a time when the UK is already falling behind.
While other JEF countries Finland, Sweden and Estonia long ago continued their own interdiction operations, Whitehall’s lawyers were wrangling over the legalities.
The embarrassment became sharpest earlier this year when American special forces took the lead in boarding the Bella 1 tanker in the North Sea; this was a mission in which British personnel were reduced to a walkable portion.
