UK Forces Seize Smyrtos Tanker in English Channel Over Russian Oil

UK Forces Seize Smyrtos Tanker Carrying Russian Oil

Fred Turner, Editor

23:58 14-06-2026

British forces seized the Smyrtos tanker in the English Channel, citing Russian oil cargo, with Royal Marines and law enforcement involved.

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British forces seized the Smyrtos vessel in the English Channel early on Sunday, June 14, the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense reported. According to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the detained tanker was carrying Russian oil.

The ministry said the operation involved Royal Marines special forces and specially trained law enforcement officers. Chinook, Merlin Mk4, and Wildcat helicopters were also deployed, along with Royal Air Force P-8 aircraft and the ships HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury. The action was carried out in close coordination with France.

According to the British Defense Ministry, Royal Marines commandos and specially trained officers from the National Crime Agency boarded the Smyrtos. The ministry said the vessel would be moved to an anchorage off the southern coast of England.

The Smyrtos sails under the flag of Cameroon and is a crude oil tanker. The vessel is just over 240 meters long and has a carrying capacity of more than 100,000 tons. According to maritime tracking service Vesselfinder, the tanker was traveling from the Russian port of Ust-Luga to Port Said in Egypt.

London officials had previously stated that British military and law enforcement personnel have the authority to board vessels that the United Kingdom believes are carrying Russian oil. Moscow views such actions as piracy. Britain has already added more than 500 vessels to its sanctions lists, identifying them as linked to the transportation of oil from Russia.