British Forces Seize Russian Oil Tanker Suspected of Sanctions Violation

London. British security forces have seized a pseudo-named oil tanker suspected of violating sanctions, carrying Russian oil. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called this a significant blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin's efforts to raise financial resources for the Ukraine war. 'This successful operation has dealt another major blow to Russia and shows our commitment not to let those who support Putin's war hide,' Starmer wrote on social media platform X.

The oil tanker named Smirtaes was carrying approximately seven hundred thousand barrels of Russian oil. The ship, operating under the flag of Cameroon, was en route from Russia's Ust-Luga port to Egypt's Port Said on June 5. According to the British Ministry of Defence, Royal Marines commandos and officials from the National Crime Agency (NCA) boarded the ship early Sunday morning by rappelling from helicopters. Warships, military aircraft, and other naval assets were also deployed in the operation.

Following the operation, an Indian national has been arrested on suspicion of sanctions-related crimes. The 24 Georgian and Indian crew members on board remain on the ship. The tanker was brought under control near the Dorset coast after a six-hour operation. British authorities have stated they will continue to monitor for environmental or security risks.

Pseudo oil tankers are a network of old tankers used to evade Western sanctions. Western countries imposed strict sanctions on Russian oil exports after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Such ships attempt to evade sanctions by repeatedly changing names, hiding ownership, using flags of different countries, and operating through opaque companies.

This is the first time Britain has directly entered and seized a ship related to a Russian pseudo oil tanker. According to security analysts, this will not completely stop Russia's oil trade. However, it clearly indicates that Western countries are becoming more aggressive in enforcing sanctions. It is reported that at least six other tankers immediately changed their routes from the English Channel after the operation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Britain, stating it was a significant step against Russia's oil fleet. Russia has not yet made any public statement about the incident. According to Alexander Lord, a defense analyst at the London-based security analysis firm Sibylline, sanctions have made Russia's oil trade expensive and complex, but have not been able to stop it completely. 'Russia is still selling large quantities of oil at discounted prices, especially to countries like India and China. Sanctions have created problems, but oil exports have not stopped. Therefore, Russia is continuously trying to find new ways to evade sanctions,' he said.