Putin’s shadow fleet cruise through British waters: How tankers loaded with Russian oil are openly defying Western sanctions in English Channel

As Russia’s shadow tankers prowl the English Channel brazenly, defense experts warn a military conflict could break out near the British coast this year.

Often described as a ‘secret’ network, Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ actually hides in plain sight as it moves millions of barrels of oil through the world’s busiest shipping route, in defiance of Western sanctions, embargoes and price caps.

Dozens of these ships pass through the Straits of Dover every month and are part of a ‘shadow fleet’ of around 800 ships that continues to fuel Vladimir Putin’s four-year war against Ukraine.

Just this week the UK Government announced its largest sanctions package against Russia in a bid to cut off critical oil revenues and weaken the Kremlin’s ability to wage its illegal war.

Experts say more than 60 percent of Russian crude oil is exported to the shadow fleet; but the Ministry of Defense insists that ‘deterring, disrupting and disrupting the Russian stay-behind fleet is a priority’.

Security experts have warned that rising tensions could lead to clashes at sea on the doorstep of the UK coast.

Defense analyst Professor Michael Clarke told Sky News: ‘There must come a point where Britain and its allies – the Dutch, the Danes, the Norwegians and the seafaring nations of Northern Europe – will have a much harder time taking on these Russian ships, even if they are escorted.

‘When that happens, we’re probably heading towards some sort of military conflict at sea later this year, possibly in the Channel or the North Sea, certainly somewhere near the British coast.’

RIGEL: This shadow fleet ship came from Primorsk, a Russian port, and has a capacity of one million barrels of oil. passed through the channel

KOUSAI: The shadow fleet oil tanker was sailing under the flag of Sierra Leone when it was spotted in the English Channel

All ships sailing under a legitimate flag have the right of innocent passage under maritime law, and many countries have continued to do business with Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

This month Sky tracked three oil-laden shadow tankers as they crossed the English Channel.

This included the 270-meter Suezmax-class tanker Rigel, with a capacity of one million barrels. The value of the oil cargo loaded from the Russian port of Primorsk on February 2 is around $55 million (£40.7 million).

This ship sails under the Cameroonian flag and is approved by the UK, EU and Canada, among others. This means he cannot use port facilities in any of the sanctioning countries but is allowed to go to his next stop, Port Said at the head of the Suez Canal.

A second tanker, Kousai, left Ust-Luga, near the Estonian border, on the same day as Rigel. The captain, flying under the Sierra Leonean flag, was warned by the Coast Guard that he must email proof of insurance to the Government email address within 24 hours.

Insurance coverage is often uncertain and it is feared that these old transport vessels could suffer a disaster at sea.

The Ministry of Defense said it had requested proof of insurance from more than 600 ships and that “deterring, disrupting and disrupting the Russian shadow fleet is a priority.”

A third tanker, Hyperion, is sanctioned by the UK, EU and USA. The ship, sailing under the Russian flag, also brazenly crossed the Channel.

As recently as December it was sailing under the flag of Sierra Leone but changed flags after making a delivery to Venezuela and escaped the US naval blockade in the Caribbean.

Flag switching, lack of transparency of ownership, and unclear insurance coverage are common among shadow fleet ships.

The US launched a military operation against tankers bound for Venezuela, and at least seven tankers have been seized since last year.

French paramilitary forces also seized a ship in the Mediterranean last month.

Last month the Royal Navy intercepted Russian ships in the English Channel.

In recent months, the Royal Navy has been monitoring Russian ships in the English Channel

British warships and aircraft were activated to shadow Russian ships during a two-day operation in coordination with NATO allies.

Portsmouth-based patrol ships HMS Mersey and HMS Severn were sent along with a Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron to intercept the Russian corvette Boikiy and its accompanying oil tanker MT General Skobelev as they sailed towards the North Sea.

Mersey first intercepted Russian ships entering the Channel and took over canopy duties from NATO allies after tracking them in the Bay of Biscay.

Near the Isle of Wight, Severn and Mersey combined with Wildcat to track the group in close coordination and use powerful sensors to gather valuable information and report back on their movements.

Severn continued to monitor the Russians heading to the North Sea before handing over responsibility for the group to a NATO ally as they continued their journey north.

Minister of the Armed Forces Al Carns MP said: ‘With this operation, our sailors have once again sent a message to Putin; We know exactly what the navy is doing.

‘Whenever a Russian ship approaches the UK, the Navy is ready to track, deter and defend it.’

The UK Government is understood to be examining the legal basis for detaining Russian tankers, including the Sanctions and Money Laundering Act.

Defense Secretary John Healey said he had ‘identified further military options that we could use to target shadow shipping’ which he had discussed with Cabinet colleagues earlier this month.

This, he said, was to ensure ‘Putin cannot so easily finance his war machine in Ukraine through sanctioned oil sales’.

Mr Healey added: ‘It’s clear we can do this and if we take it further we’ll put pressure on Putin. And we’re helping Ukraine take the strong position it needs and press Putin to come to the negotiating table and resolve this issue with a proper peace agreement.’

A Ministry of Defense spokesman said: ‘Deterring, disrupting and humiliating the Russian stay-behind fleet is this government’s priority. We are stepping up our response to shadow ships alongside our allies and will continue to do so, as our Secretary of State has stated.

‘We continue to take strong action, including sanctioning suspected shadow fleet ships and requiring proof of insurance.

‘Since October 2024 the UK has challenged approximately 643 suspected shadow fleet ships using this system.’