British forces seize an oil tank of “shadow float” Russian Channel in La Mansh

The operation, which lasted about six hours, was headed by the United Kingdom and included Royal Navy commandos as well as officers of the National Crime Agency.

Ship, identified as “Smyrtos”, which sailed under Cameroon's banner, was taken over during the intervention.

According to the tracking platform “Merine Traffic”, the tank is currently anchored off the Dorset coast, near Weymouth, and is being kept under monitoring for security and environmental reasons, reports The Guardian.

British authorities consider “Smyrtos” as part of a network of about 700 ships that, they say, transport most Russian oil exports, helping Moscow bypass international sanctions and finance the war in Ukraine.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he had ordered intervention, naming the operation a blow to those supporting Vladimir Putin's war.

This successful operation gives another blow to Russia and sends a clear message to those who finance the war,” said Starmer.

Meanwhile, new Defence Minister Dan Yavor called the operation “difficult and professional”, stressing that Russia depends on this fleet to keep revenues from oil during the conflict in Ukraine.

The British Defence Ministry announced that the operation was supported by military helicopters, a P-8 patrol aircraft, as well as HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury warships, in co-operation with France.

According to London, this is one of the most important operations of this kind and comes after expanding British sanctions on over 500 ships linked to the Russian oil trade.