British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on the 25th of March that he had given permission to the army to board and detain ships of the Russian shadow fleet, writes Reuters.
European countries have increased efforts to dismantle Russia’s shadow fleet, consisting of tankers that Moscow uses to circumvent sanctions, and the British decision is the latest development in events. Starmer said that he approved more aggressive action against the shadow fleet because Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is likely rubbing his hands with joy at the rapid rise in oil prices caused by the Iran war. He indicated in the statement that this is why the shadow fleet must be fought even more fiercely, not only for the security of Britain, but also to deprive Putin’s war machine of the bloody funds that finance Russian barbaric actions in Ukraine.
Downing Street said British military and law enforcement officials were preparing to board Russian vessels that would not surrender, were armed or used advanced technology to evade capture.
Once the vessels are seized, the owners and crew could face criminal charges for violating sanctions.
Russia’s shadow fleet has allowed it to continue exporting oil, evading Western sanctions imposed after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. European efforts to maintain pressure on Russia were threatened in March by US President Donald Trump’s decision to allow countries to buy Russian oil for 30 days to stabilise the international energy market, which has been shaken by the war in Iran.
Britain has imposed sanctions on 544 Russian tankers. They regularly cross the English Channel, which separates Britain from France. British estimates suggest that around three-quarters of Russia’s crude oil is transported by shadow fleet ships. Shadow fleet ships are usually of unclear ownership, use false flags and documentation, and are aging, thus posing a risk to the environment.
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