British forces seized the oil tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel on Sunday morning. The vessel is part of a fleet suspected of transporting sanctioned Russian oil, often referred to as a “shadow fleet.” Commandos from the Royal Marines and specialist police officers boarded the tanker during the operation. Authorities have not yet disclosed specific details regarding the seizure or the quantity of oil onboard. The operation signals a heightened effort to enforce sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. This is the first publicly confirmed seizure of a vessel linked to Russia’s shadow fleet by UK authorities. Further investigations are underway to determine the full extent of the tanker’s involvement in circumventing sanctions.