UK seizes Russian ‘shadow’ submarine – what does it mean | News of the Russian-Ukrainian war

British forces intercepted a Russian-linked oil tanker suspected of violating sanctions as it passed through the English Channel on Sunday, in what Prime Minister Keir Starmer described as a major setback for Moscow’s efforts to extract its funds. war in Ukraine.

“This successful operation presents yet another challenge to Russia and reminds those behind (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s war in Ukraine that we will not allow them to hide,” Starmer wrote in a tweet on X on Sunday.

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Following the attack, the National Crime Agency (NCA) arrested an Indian national on suspicion of murder, while the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) confirmed the seizure of the Smyrtos submarine.

The operation is the first UK-led operation where its troops have boarded and seized a ship from Russia named “shadow ships” – a group of hundreds of tankers used to transport Russian oil and avoid Western sanctions imposed after Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022.

This is what it means.

What happened?

According to the MarineTraffic website, the oil tanker Smyrtos, carrying 700,000 barrels of Russian oil and sailing under the flag of Cameroon, left the Russian Baltic port of Ust-Luga on June 5 and went to Port Said in Egypt.

The Smyrtos is listed as being owned by a Hong Kong-registered company, Zhao Yao Shipping Ltd, which also owns several other licensed tankers. Its management company is registered in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.

The MoD said Royal Marines and NCA commandos boarded the ship in the early hours of Sunday morning, disembarking the ship with Chinook helicopter gunships, supported by other warplanes, a Royal Navy frigate and a minehunter.

The NCA said 24 Georgians and Indians remained on board the ship, which is now anchored off the coast of Dorset.

The operation took six hours. The ship will be moved to the south coast of England and assessed for environmental or safety reasons, the ministry said.

The operation was successfully carried out despite the close proximity of the Russian warship, Admiral Grigorovich. The frigate has been stationed near the UK since April and has escorted several Russian tankers through the English Channel. It is unclear how close he was to Smyrtos at the time of the shooting.

Following the attack, at least six tankers immediately diverted from the English Channel.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the UK in a post on X “for taking action against Russian oil tankers”.

Russia has not publicly commented on the matter.

Why does Russia use “shadow-fleet” tanks?

Along with other Western countries, Britain has banned ships linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” from entering its ports and banned British companies from providing insurance, brokerage or financial services to Russian oil tankers, which remain as insurers. a major source of income to Russia during its war in Ukraine.

Alexander Lord, a security analyst at the London-based intelligence firm Sibylline, told Al Jazeera that the sanctions have increased costs and pressures on Moscow but have not stopped Russia from continuing to export more oil.

“Russia has many customers and continues to sell its oil at very low prices, especially to countries like India and China,” Lord said.

“The sanctions are undoubtedly hurting the Russian economy, but we’re now in the fifth year of the annexation of Ukraine), and Russia is still exporting a lot of oil.

“Russia is constantly trying to find ways to protect its ships, using shadow ships, changing names and ownership to avoid sanctions and investigations.”

Why has the UK acted now?

Many observers say the real question is why the UK has not acted now.

The move follows Starmer’s March announcement that UK authorities will be given the power to stop, board and detain vessels authorized to transit British waters.

According to the MoD, the UK has imposed sanctions on more than 500 ships linked to Russian shadow vessels, and this has contributed to a 24 percent drop in Russian oil and gas exports in 2025 compared to the previous year.

Security expert and historian Peter Caddick-Adams told Al Jazeera: “The mandate for this operation has been in place since March. That same month, Starmer agreed that the British military and police could stop, board and detain vessels authorized by international law.”

“Those rules have been in force for 11 weeks. In those 11 weeks, 200 oil tankers that were allowed to pass through British economic zones.

UK journalists have reported that the launch of the project has been delayed by legal issues and the high cost of maintaining the seized ships.

The operation follows a growing effort by Europeans to spy on Russian naval vessels.

Lord added that the United States, with the help of the Royal Navy, seized a Russian-linked submarine off Scotland in January. “This operation is the beginning of a new phase of naval deterrence,” he said.

“It set a clear example of what was to come. Before long, there were many cases of legal reasons for the UK not to be unilaterally involved.”

France has also seized a number of vessels suspected of carrying illegal Russian oil. In January, French authorities seized the Grinch, and in March they seized the Deyna, which left Murmansk under the Mozambican flag.

Finland, Sweden and Estonia have also stepped up inspections and enforcement actions against ships suspected of helping Russia evade sanctions.

“Russia opposes the French and British legal basis for such actions, they say they are against the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,” said Lord. “Britain and France argue that existing laws in their constitutions are legal to ban them.

How will this project affect oil supplies in Russia?

Ukraine welcomed the coup, with President Zelenskyy thanking Starmer and the British people for their “ideas”.

“It was Russia’s pressure, fueled by huge oil and gas revenues, that led to the war, and any decision by the allies that deprives Russia of money also reduces the war,” Zelenskyy wrote in his X article.

Experts say the seizure will not significantly disrupt Russian oil sales but could increase prices and force other ships to take longer routes to avoid inspections.

Avoiding the English Channel adds about 926km (500 nautical miles) to the journey of a tanker from Russia to the Suez Canal. The tanks will also have to cross the North Atlantic instead – a very difficult route with high cost and risk.

“I don’t think this changes the whole picture,” Lord said. “Ust-Luga on the Baltic Sea, near St Petersburg, will remain a major port and ships will continue to pass through the channel.

“Russia’s response should be the same. There is an opportunity for Russian ships to change their routes. We have already seen examples of ships moving further around the UK to reduce risk.”

Will Russia retaliate?

Lord said that despite the potential for more, Russia has so far shown little response to a similar seizure in France.

Caddick-Adams also minimized the possibility of retaliation. “There have been no objections against other countries boarding the ships, and none are expected against the UK,” he said.

He said the aging and poorly maintained ships were designed to avoid penalties for false registration, underinsuring and undercover sailing.

“Shadow vessels are used to evade sanctions against oil and gas produced by Russia,” said Caddick-Adams. “This operation is only making it harder for Moscow to move oil around the world.”