The British military will be able to board shadow fleet vessels transiting UK waters as the UK steps up its pressure on Putin.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has agreed that the UK Armed Forces and law enforcement officers will now be able to interdict vessels that have been sanctioned by the UK and are transiting through UK waters.
It follows the Royal Navy supporting allies with the monitoring and tracking of several shadow fleet ships to enable interdiction in European and Mediterranean waters in recent weeks.
“We are living in an increasingly volatile and dangerous world, facing threats from different fronts across the world every day. As Prime Minister, my first duty is to keep this country safe and protect British interests here and abroad,” Starmer said.
“Putin is rubbing his hands at the war in the Middle East because he thinks higher oil prices will let him line his pockets. That’s why we’re going after his shadow fleet even harder, not just keeping Britain safe but starving Putin’s war machine of the dirty profits that fund his barbaric campaign in Ukraine.
“He and his cronies should be in no doubt, we will always defend our sovereignty and stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
The UK military have been tracking the shadow fleet for a number of years and following the successful US operation to seize tanker Bella 1, which UK assets supported, Ministers ordered the development of plans and options to carry out similar operations against further Russian shadow fleet ships.
Military and law enforcement specialists have been put through their paces in preparation for a number of scenarios in recent weeks, including boarding vessels that don’t surrender, are armed, or use high-tech, pervasive surveillance to evade capture.
Each target ship will be individually considered by law enforcement, military and energy market specialists before a recommendation is made to ministers and an operation is executed.
Following the detention of a ship, criminal proceedings may be brought against the owners, operators, and crew for breaches of UK sanctions legislation.
Around 75% of Russia’s crude oil is transported by Putin’s decrepit fleet and aging fleet of ships. Alongside allies, the UK has imposed sanctions on 544 Russian shadow fleet vessels.
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