Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 01:43pm on 14 Jun 2026,Sunday International
British forces boarded a Russian "shadow fleet" oil tanker in the English Channel in a major operation ordered by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The vessel, named Smyrtos, was intercepted early on Sunday and searched by Royal Marines and law enforcement officers. The six-hour operation involved helicopters, aircraft and Royal Navy ships. It was the first time a Russian shadow fleet vessel had been stopped in British waters. Starmer said the action "delivers yet another blow to Russia" and sends a message to those supporting President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the UK for the operation.
