UK forces board sanctioned Russian oil tanker in English Channel for the first time, says Keir Starmer – UK politics live | Politics
British forces intercepted Russian shadow fleet ship in the English Channel
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of UK politics. British armed forces seized a Russian shadow fleet ship in the English Channel early Sunday morning, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.
Royal Marine commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency boarded a sanctioned oil tanker during a six-hour operation, according to the Ministry of Defense (MoD).
The Ministry of Defense added that the ship, named Smyrtos, would be kept and monitored off the south coast of England for any environmental or safety concerns while investigations continued.
Starmer said in a statement: “This operation deals another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling (President Vladimir) Putin’s war in Ukraine that they cannot hide.”
New defense minister Dan Jarvis said:
Such operations require skill, professionalism and courage. I offer my respects to our Armed Forces personnel and everyone who contributed.
Russia relies on its stay-behind fleet to finance the conflict in Ukraine, and our ban deals a blow to Putin’s illegal war.
The incident comes just days after former Armed Forces Secretary Al Carns and defense secretary John Healey resigned from their posts following a protracted row over the defense investment plan (Dip). They said the plan, which has faced repeated delays, was seriously underfunded and did not deliver what the defense ministry needed to keep Britain safe at such an unstable time.
Healey said the government was only willing to provide £10bn in additional funding, a figure well below what was needed amid the threat from Russia and other major security challenges.
