The British government has defended its decision to detain a Russian-linked oil tanker in the English Channel after Russian President Vladimir Putin cautioned that Moscow could retaliate against Western nations involved in similar actions.
The vessel, Smyrtos, has remained under detention near Weymouth following a June operation in which Royal Marines boarded the tanker in an effort to disrupt a ship allegedly involved in transporting restricted Russian petroleum.
Its captain, Ajay Pant, has been accused of violating sanctions by being involved, either directly or indirectly, in the transportation or delivery of prohibited Russian crude.
President Putin, speaking while supervising Russian naval exercises in the Pacific, condemned Western countries for taking control of Russian-connected ships.
He described such operations as acts of “piracy and banditry” and warned that Moscow would not remain passive if further vessels were targeted.
“If these plans are put into practice, we will have to respond in kind,” Putin said.
He added that any Russian reaction would not necessarily take place in the same maritime areas where Western operations occurred, but could happen “anywhere” deemed appropriate.
Britain, however, rejected the accusation and insisted that the boarding of the Smyrtos was lawful.
A UK government spokesperson said British military personnel and enforcement officials acted “in full accordance with international law”, adding that London was working to prevent shadow-fleet ships from supporting Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine.
The government also argued that British military and commercial shipping activities comply with international maritime regulations, unlike the network of vessels Western governments accuse Russia of using to circumvent sanctions.
The UK Ministry of Defence estimates that Russia’s shadow fleet comprises more than 700 ships, carrying approximately 75 per cent of the country’s restricted oil exports.
Officials describe the network as an important source of revenue for the Kremlin’s continued war effort.
Shadow-fleet operators are accused of employing ageing tankers, complicated ownership arrangements, questionable insurance arrangements and other methods to conceal the origin of Russian petroleum and avoid international restrictions.
Russia’s Pacific Fleet commander, Viktor Liina, meanwhile accused Britain, France and other Western countries of maintaining similar maritime networks.
He said Moscow was prepared to inspect or detain ships belonging to states it considers hostile.
The Smyrtos remains in British custody at a facility near Weymouth and is being monitored by authorities.
Responsibility for maintaining the ship and supplying its remaining crew rests with its owner.
Twenty-two of the original 25 crew members were sent home in July.
The dispute comes as the European Union increases its efforts to restrict Russia’s maritime oil trade.
Since 2024, the bloc has imposed sanctions directly on individual vessels identified as part of Moscow’s so-called “dark fleet”.
More than 630 ships were under EU sanctions by mid-August 2026, preventing them from accessing European ports.
Several European countries have also conducted inspections, boardings and detentions of Russian-linked vessels suspected of breaching restrictions.
In one recent incident, Italy’s navy, working with other European partners, boarded a tanker in the central Mediterranean over concerns about its claimed registration, although the vessel was not ultimately confiscated.
European authorities say nine shadow-fleet tankers suspected of helping Russia evade sanctions have been seized within the EU since the beginning of 2026.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong