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UK Prepares to Seize Russia’s Shadow Oil Tankers at Sea—Following US Military Crackdown
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
The United Kingdom is preparing legal and operational frameworks to enable its armed forces to detain ships associated with Russia, Iran, and Venezuela that are believed to be circumventing oil sanctions.
According to BBC News, ministers believe the Sanctions and Money Laundering Act of 2018 provides a legal basis for UK military personnel to board and detain such vessels, often operating without valid national flags.
Citing government sources, BBC News reports that UK officials have spent recent weeks assessing how to act against what is commonly referred to as the shadow fleet—a group of tankers used to transport oil in violation of international sanctions.
These vessels often sail without proper registration and lack insurance, raising safety and legal concerns in international waters.
The UK government believes that the 2018 legislation could be applied to authorize military interventions, including boarding and detaining tankers that are either sanctioned or improperly flagged. So far, no UK military personnel have executed such an operation, but internal discussions are advancing.
The UK has already assisted in at least one such interdiction. As BBC News notes, British armed forces supported the US seizure of the Marinera, a Venezuelan-linked tanker previously named Bella 1.
The vessel was stopped by the US Coast Guard while traversing the North Atlantic between Iceland and Scotland. The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that Royal Air Force surveillance aircraft and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Tideforce participated in the operation.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey told Parliament on January 8 that the government is “stepping up action on the shadow fleet, developing further military options and strengthening co-ordination with allies.”
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson later confirmed that “deterring, disrupting and degrading the Russian shadow fleet is a priority for this government.”
Earlier, the United States seized several oil tankers linked to Russia’s shadow fleet as part of its sanctions enforcement campaign. In December 2025, US forces took control of The Skipper and Centuries after they departed Venezuelan ports, and in early January 2026, American authorities intercepted the tanker Sophia in the Atlantic, citing its role in transporting sanctioned oil shipments.
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