Britain Seizes Russian Oil Tanker in English Channel Amid Rising Tensions with Moscow

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the country’s armed forces have intercepted and seized the Russian oil tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel.

In a post published on the social media platform X on Sunday, Starmer announced the capture of the vessel, saying it was part of Russia’s so-called “Shadow Fleet.”

The British Ministry of Defense said the operation lasted six hours and that the vessel would be “provisionally moved to an anchorage off the South Coast of England and will be monitored for any environmental or safety concerns.”

The seizure comes amid a series of similar maritime actions involving Russian-linked vessels.