Royal Marines have boarded and seized a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the English Channel for the first time, Sir Keir Starmer has announced.
Posting on X, Starmer said the seizure was “yet another blow to Russia” and reminds those supporting Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine “that we will not let them hide”.
The Ministry of Defence said Royal Marine commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency were involved in the boarding which took six hours, and was supported by aircraft from the Maritime Air Group, an RAF P-8 aircraft, as well as HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury.
The Smyrtos tanker has now been moved to anchor off the south coast in Portland, Dorset, tracking data shows.
Follow The i Paper’s live blog for the latest updates.
Royal Marines board Russian shadow fleet tanker Sort: Newest first Oldest first June 14, 2026 8:41 amWhat happened in the shadow fleet operation?
The 6-hour operation is the first UK-led operation of its kind, following the government strengthening its legal position to enable it to detain sanctioned Russian ships near its waters.
The tanker was moved to anchor just off the coast of Portland, near Weymouth on England’s south coast.
On 25 March, Starmer authorised military personnel to carry out forced boardings, but this had not materialised until now.
June 14, 2026 8:34 amTanker anchored off the coast of Dorset, tracking data shows
According to maritime tracking data, the tanker appears to be anchored off the coast of Dorset.
The tanker, marked with a red dot, shown to be off the coast of Dorset (Marine Traffic) June 14, 2026 8:32 amAnalysis: Starmer trying to shore up reputation on defence
Eleanor LangfordPolitical ReporterAfter a punishing week, it lets the Prime Minister project strength on defence at the very moment his record on it has come under fire.
The timing could hardly be better. Days earlier, Starmer lost his defence secretary, John Healey, who quit over the funding in the long-delayed Defence Investment Plan, followed out of the door by armed forces minister Al Carns. Both warned the Government was not putting enough money behind Britain’s military.
It also makes for a striking first week for the new Defence Secretary, Dan Jarvis. The former paratrooper, appointed only on Thursday, now has an early operational success to point to – even as the larger argument over how much Britain is willing to spend goes unresolved.
June 14, 2026 8:31 amThe estate where dozens of renters were kicked out – days before ban on evictions
By Vicky SprattOn 3 May, two days after no fault evictions were banned under the Government’s flagship Renters’ Rights Act came into force, she received an eviction notice telling her that she would be evicted from her home on the St James’ Place estate in Bermondsey, south London, by the end of June.
Asha Garway has been told to leave her home by the end of June (Photo: Scarlett Milburn-Smith/The i Paper)
“It’s really tough,” Asha says, sitting on the sofa in her living room with the letter, which was dated at the end of April – days ahead of the evictions ban. “Our rent is already £2,400 a month before bills.”
“I have looked for places [to rent in the area], and it’s all beyond my budget,” Asha says. “I worry that my son’s autism means he won’t cope well with change…this is our home. We might have to move to a completely different borough, and it’s heartbreaking…really painful.”
Read the full story here.
June 14, 2026 8:29 amExplainer: What is the shadow fleet?
But the shadow fleet is used by Moscow to continue to sail Russian crude oil through British waters under flags from other countries.
But since then, more than 200 sanctioned tankers have sailed through UK waters, The i Paper reported last month.
This is the first time UK forces have led an operation to board and intercept one of Putin’s shadow fleet tankers.
The shadow fleet has become a lifeline for Putin’s war effort, with ships sailing under false flags in order to evade blockades and make money from sanctioned oil June 14, 2026 8:12 am‘Another blow to Putin’ says new Defence Secretary
He said: “Operations like this require skill, professionalism and courage.
“Russia relies on its shadow fleet to fund their conflict in Ukraine and our interdiction delivers another blow to Putin’s illegal war.”
Operations like this require skill, professionalism and courage. I pay tribute to our Armed Forces personnel and all those involved.Russia relies on its shadow fleet to fund their conflict in Ukraine and our interdiction delivers another blow to Putin's illegal war. t.co/k5X5PBpiLX
— Dan Jarvis MP (@DanJarvisMBE) June 14, 2026 June 14, 2026 8:02 amRoyal Marines board Russian shadow fleet tanker
Royal Marines have boarded and seized a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the English Channel for the first time, Sir Keir Starmer has announced.
“I want to thank those involved, including our Armed Forces and law enforcement officers who keep this country safe 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,” Starmer said.
The Smyrtos tanker has now been moved to anchor off the south coast in Portland, Dorset, tracking data shows.
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