UK defends seizing shadow fleet tanker after Putin threat

The UK government has defended its interception of a Russian "shadow fleet" oil tanker in the English Channel, following a threat from Russian President Vladimir Putin to retaliate. The Smyrtos tanker was anchored off Weymouth after Royal Marines Commandos boarded the vessel in June, marking a first-of-its-kind operation to halt the sanctioned ship.

The tanker's captain, Ajay Pant, has been charged with breaching Russian sanctions, accused of aiding or directly supplying prohibited Russian oil. Russian President Putin denounced Western countries for "seizing our vessels," labeling such actions "nothing other than piracy and banditry." The UK Ministry of Defence states that Russia operates a fleet of over 700 vessels, responsible for carrying 75% of the country's sanctioned oil exports.

These vessels allegedly exploit intricate ownership structures and various tactics to conceal the cargo's origin, masking their connection to Russia. In a Wednesday statement, Putin cautioned Western nations against seizing additional tankers, warning that "if these plans are put into practice, we will have to respond in kind," not necessarily in the same waters but where deemed necessary and appropriate.

Commander Viktor Liina of Russia's Pacific Fleet accused Western powers like Britain and France of maintaining their own "shadow fleets."