LONDON, June 14, 2026 (Reuters) – British armed forces ​on Sunday intercepted a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker attempting to pass through the English Channel.

The vessel SMYRTOS was boarded by Royal ‌Marine Commandos ‌and specially ​trained ‌law ⁠enforcement ​officers from the ⁠National Crime Agency, Britain’s Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

The vessel will be held and monitored ⁠off the south ‌coast as ‌investigations continue, the ​statement said, ‌adding that enforcement action ‌in Britain’s territorial waters was carried out in accordance with domestic and international law.

British ‌Prime Minister Kier Starmer said that he ⁠had directed ⁠the interception.

“This successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin’s war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide,” Starmer said in ​a ​post on X.