Starmer posts video showing UK operation against Russian shadow fleet vessel – video
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thanked the UK and its Prime Minister Keir Starmer after London carried out its first operation to seize a Russian shadow fleet tanker.
Source: Zelenskyy and Starmer on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda
Details: Zelenskyy was responding to a post by Starmer that contained a video of the operation to seize the Russian tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel on Sunday 14 June.
The video shows special forces personnel boarding and searching the vessel.
"I am grateful to the UK for taking this important step against Russia's oil fleet – a shadow fleet tanker has been detained off the UK's southern coast," Zelenskyy wrote.
He stressed that every step taken by Ukraine's partners to deprive Russia of funds used to finance the war helps curb the war itself.
The Ukrainian president also called on Kyiv's other allies to introduce legislation enabling the confiscation of oil transported by vessels belonging to Russia's shadow fleet.
Quote from Zelenskyy: "I thank Keir Starmer and all Britons for such principled resolve. And Europe urgently needs to take legislative steps to enable not only the detention of tankers and restrictions on oil shipments, but also the confiscation of the oil they carry. This will certainly help bring peace closer."
Background:
- On 14 June, the UK intercepted the Russian shadow fleet vessel Smyrtos in the English Channel. The operation was conducted in close coordination with France and marked London's first such action against a sanctioned Russian tanker.
- The vessel will remain at an anchorage off the southern coast of England while inspections are carried out for environmental and safety risks.
- In March, Starmer announced that the Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies of the UK will be able to intercept and detain sanctioned vessels from Russia's shadow fleet transiting through British waters.
- The UK has repeatedly taken part in French operations targeting sanctioned Russian shadow fleet tankers. The most recent such operation took place on 31 May in the Atlantic Ocean. The Russian shadow fleet oil tanker Tagor was intercepted over 400 nautical miles (740 km) west of the westernmost point of Brittany.
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