Russian Senator Suggests Blowing Up Own Tankers to Trigger Spills and Stop Seizures

Russian Senator Dmitry Rogozin has proposed equipping Russian oil tankers with mechanisms that could destroy the vessels if they are detained by foreign authorities, following the British interception of a tanker linked to Russia’s shadow fleet in the English Channel.

According to public statements made by Dmitry Rogozin on June 14, the former head of Russia’s space agency Roscosmos suggested that Russian oil tankers should be capable of being destroyed if forced to enter a foreign port or diverted from their route.

Commenting on the detention of the tanker Smyrtos, Rogozin argued that such vessels should be mined in advance and detonated under certain conditions. He stated: “If a couple of them explode right under their noses with an oil spill and the corresponding environmental consequences, they will immediately come to their senses.”

The remarks came after British authorities confirmed the interception of the Smyrtos, a Cameroon-flagged tanker identified by Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) as part of Russia’s shadow fleet used to transport oil and petroleum products despite Western sanctions.

According to the UK Ministry of Defence and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, British military and law enforcement personnel conducted a six-hour operation in the English Channel overnight on June 14. The vessel was detained and placed under supervision off the southern coast of the United Kingdom pending an investigation.

Smyrtos had been anchored in the Gulf of Finland with its Automatic Identification System (AIS) switched off since at least June 5 and was believed to have visited Russia’s Ust-Luga port. The tanker departed the area on June 7, listed Port Said, Egypt, as its destination, exited the Baltic Sea on June 11, and was intercepted in the English Channel two days later.

According to HUR, Smyrtos has participated in Russian oil exports since at least March 2025, primarily operating routes connected to the Far Eastern port of Kozmino. The vessel has been sanctioned by the European Union, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Canada, and Ukraine.

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Europe vs. Russia’s Shadow Fleet: Why Detentions Alone Aren’t Enough

Jun 04, 2026 17:27

Russia’s shadow fleet consists of hundreds of aging tankers operating through complex ownership structures and flags of convenience to facilitate oil exports outside Western sanctions regimes. Ukrainian intelligence estimates that the network includes more than 700 vessels and transports roughly 75% of Russia’s seaborne oil exports.

Earlier, The New York Times reported that Russia’s shadow fleet had grown to around 940 vessels by early 2025, accounting for roughly 17% of the world’s active oil tanker fleet. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, the network has helped Moscow maintain oil exports despite Western sanctions, with many vessels operating under opaque ownership structures and flags of convenience.

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