The United Kingdom has defended its operation to seize a Russian "shadow fleet" oil tanker in the English Channel, after Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of retaliation. The MT Smyrtos was intercepted and boarded by Royal Marine Commandos in June, a move the UK government stated was conducted "in full accordance with international law".
The vessel was subsequently anchored off Weymouth. The captain of the Smyrtos, Ajay Pant, has been charged with breaching Russian sanctions, specifically for allegedly supplying or delivering prohibited Russian oil. The UK government emphasized that its actions aim to disrupt and deter "shadow fleet" vessels and their activities, which it claims are fueling Russia's war with Ukraine.
President Putin, while overseeing Russian navy drills, criticized Western countries for "seizing our vessels," labelling such actions as "nothing other than piracy and banditry." He threatened to "respond in kind," stating that Russia's response would not necessarily be limited to the waters where raids on its ships are planned, but could occur "wherever we deem it necessary and appropriate, anywhere." Viktor Liina, commander of Russia's Pacific Fleet, echoed this sentiment, accusing Britain and France of operating their own "shadow fleets" and asserting Russia's capacity to inspect and detain vessels of "unfriendly states."
The UK government spokesperson contrasted the actions of British forces with Russia's shadow fleet, asserting that "UK armed forces and commercial vessels operate firmly in line with international maritime law." Western nations allege that Russia employs a "shadow fleet" of over 700 vessels, carrying approximately 75% of the country's sanctioned oil, which the UK Ministry of Defence describes as a "critical lifeline for the Kremlin" in sustaining its war efforts.
Putin's remarks coincide with intensified pressure on Russia's shadow fleet by the European Union. The EU has accused member states of violating international maritime law and attempting to restrict Russian vessels. Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, many Western countries imposed sanctions on Russian energy. Moscow has been accused of evading these sanctions by shipping oil on older tankers with obscure ownership or insurance details.
To counter this tactic, the EU began sanctioning individual shadow fleet vessels in 2024, referring to them as "Putin's dark fleet." As of mid-August 2026, over 630 vessels have been sanctioned, prohibiting them from EU ports. Several European countries have also been seizing or detaining Russian-linked vessels suspected of sanctions violations. Most recently, the Italian navy, in conjunction with other EU countries, boarded a tanker in the central Mediterranean suspected of flying a false flag. While that inspection did not lead to a seizure, nine shadow fleet tankers suspected of circumventing sanctions have been seized across the EU since the start of the year.
"If these plans are put into practice, we will have to respond in kind," Putin warned on Wednesday.
