British commandos stormed a Russian oil tanker in the English Channel, rappelling from a Chinook helicopter onto the deck in a pre-dawn raid. The operation on Sunday morning targeted the Smyrtos, a Cameroon-flagged vessel carrying 704,962 barrels of crude oil from Russia's Ust-Luga terminal near St Petersburg.
The Royal Marines, supported by two Royal Navy ships, a surveillance aircraft, and other helicopters, took control of the ship and directed its crew to sail to the south coast of England. Footage released hours later showed commandos moving through the crew's private quarters.
First Sea Lord Gwyn Jenkins, the chief of naval staff, said the operation was a success thanks to the "skills, bravery and professionalism of our people." Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he personally directed the interception and described it as "yet another blow to Russia."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the UK, saying Russia's war was fuelled by oil and gas revenues. He noted that in the past week alone, Russia launched 1,920 attack drones, 1,790 guided aerial bombs, and 17 missiles against Ukraine.
The Smyrtos was heading for the Indian port of Sikka, according to marine news service Lloyd's List. The vessel had been sanctioned for exporting Russian oil, part of what is known as the "shadow fleet" — ships that use opaque ownership and flag-of-convenience registrations to evade Western sanctions.
This is the first time the UK has seized a shadow fleet vessel in the English Channel, but the French navy has conducted four similar operations over the past year. Earlier this month, French forces intercepted the Tagor, a Madagascar-flagged tanker sailing from Murmansk, with support from a Royal Navy helicopter.
French President Emmanuel Macron called it "unacceptable" for ships to circumvent sanctions, violate the law of the sea, and finance Russia's war. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the French interception as bordering on "international piracy" and illegal.
The British raid comes days before the G7 summit in Evian, France, where Starmer and Macron will join US President Donald Trump. Trump has repeatedly accused European leaders of underinvesting in defence. Starmer met Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae in London on Sunday to discuss the joint development of a supersonic stealth fighter jet under the Global Combat Air Program.
The operation also unfolded against a backdrop of political turmoil in London. Former defence minister John Healey quit on Thursday, saying Starmer was "unable" to fund defence at the scale needed. Armed forces minister Al Carns resigned hours later. The resignations exposed a cabinet split over spending, with several ministers blocking cuts to welfare or other programmes to free up funds for defence.
A government strategic defence review published last year called for an additional £68 billion in defence spending over a decade. Britain spent £60.2 billion on defence in the most recent financial year.
"It was Russia's hubris, fuelled by high oil and gas revenues, that paved the way for this war, and every decision by partners that deprives Russia of money also limits the war itself," Zelensky said.
The Smyrtos is now in British custody. What happens to its cargo and crew next will likely be determined by UK courts and sanctions enforcement agencies.