The head of the British government emphasized that the actions are intended to be a signal to people and entities supporting Russian aggression against Ukraine.
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“This successful operation is another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin's war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide.” wrote Starmer on X.
Commandos and NCA agents on board
Details of the action were presented by the British Ministry of Defense. In the issued statement he informs that the seized vessel is the tanker Smyrtos. The operation was carried out by British Navy commandos together with specially trained National Crime Agency (NCA) officers.
According to the ministry the unit was taken over directly during operations conducted by the British services. The tanker will remain under the supervision of authorities off the south coast of Great Britain until the investigation is completed.
The ministry also noted that the activities were carried out in accordance with applicable national and international law.
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Fight against evasion of sanctions
The takeover of Smyrtos is part of broader actions by Western countries aimed at limiting the possibility of circumventing sanctions imposed on Russia after the launch of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The term “shadow fleet” refers to an extensive network of tankers and merchant ships, often flying foreign flags, that are used to transport Russian raw materials, primarily crude oil. Thanks to complex ownership structures and changes of flags, these units are intended to facilitate circumvention of trade and financial restrictions introduced by Western countries.
