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UK Moves to Strike Russian Shadow Fleet Vessels Operating in Its Waters
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In a bid to increase pressure on Russian leader Vladimir Putin, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has authorized British military personnel to seize Russian shadow fleet vessels operating in UK waters.
The move, announced by the Prime Minister’s office on March 25, aims to disrupt the Russian maritime operations that are believed to be fueling Putin’s war in Ukraine.
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“The Prime Minister has agreed that the UK Armed Forces and law enforcement officers will now be able to interdict vessels that have been sanctioned by the UK and are transiting through UK waters,” the statement reads.
The UK government emphasized that the goal is to close British waters, including the English Channel, to sanctioned vessels. As a result, the owners of these ships will either be forced to take longer, more expensive routes or risk being detained by the British military.
Starmer’s office clarified that military and law enforcement personnel would take an individual approach to each vessel, consulting with industry experts before carrying out any interception operations.
“Following the detention of a ship, criminal proceedings may be brought against the against the owners, operators and crew, for breaches of UK sanctions legislation,” the statement added.
Commenting on the decision, Starmer highlighted the increasingly unstable and dangerous state of the world, stressing that it is the government’s duty to ensure the security of the UK and protect its interests.
“Putin is rubbing his hands at the war in the Middle East because he thinks higher oil prices will let him line his pockets. That’s why we’re going after his shadow fleet even harder, not just keeping Britain safe but starving Putin’s war machine of the dirty profits that fund his barbaric campaign in Ukraine. He and his cronies should be in no doubt, we will always defend our sovereignty and stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes,” Starmer said.
According to the statement, the UK has already imposed sanctions on 544 shadow fleet vessels linked to Russia.
In line with these efforts, the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is set to establish a new command center on the country’s eastern coast as part of its efforts to track and counter Russia’s shadow fleet. According to The Sunday Times, the center will be located at HMS Calliope, a naval reserve training facility in Gateshead, which will be transformed into an operational hub.
From this center, British military personnel will be able to monitor sanctioned oil tankers and intercept vessels suspected of evading sanctions. Additionally, the Royal Navy plans to deploy remotely operated unmanned patrol boats capable of monitoring the North Sea and the English Channel up to 800 kilometers away.
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These drones will be tasked with identifying vessels operating under false flags and sending movement data to British authorities, allowing for swift action to apprehend suspected violators.
In addition to these plans, the Royal Navy recently conducted a two-day operation to track Russian vessels passing through the English Channel, in coordination with NATO allies. The operation, was a part of NATO’s ongoing efforts to monitor Russian maritime activity.
During the operation, the Royal Navy deployed two patrol ships, supported by a Wildcat helicopter, to shadow the Russian warship Boikiy and the accompanying oil tanker MT General Skobelev as they made their way north. Following the operation, the responsibility for monitoring the vessels was handed over to a NATO partner.
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