Starmer orders British forces to capture Russia’s sanctioned shadow tankers

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has ordered British forces to seize Russia’s sanctioned “shadow fleet” tankers, granting the military powers to board vessels transiting UK waters as pressure mounts on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to UK government order, under the new directive, UK Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies can interdict vessels sanctioned by Britain as they pass through its waters.

The move follows recent operations in which the Royal Navy supported allies by tracking shadow fleet ships across European and Mediterranean routes.

The announcement comes as Starmer attends the Joint Expeditionary Force summit in Helsinki on Thursday (March 26), where regional security and countering Russia’s actions are key topics.

Several JEF members, including Finland, Sweden and Estonia, have already conducted operations targeting suspected shadow fleet vessels in the Baltic Sea.

Officials said the UK’s participation will further restrict access to critical maritime routes, including the English Channel, forcing sanctioned vessels to take longer routes or risk detention.

“We are living in an increasingly volatile and dangerous world, facing threats from different fronts across the world every day. As Prime Minister, my first duty is to keep this country safe and protect British interests here and abroad,” Starmer was quoted as saying.

Starmer said 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,” he added.

The government said the Arctic and High North are critical to UK security, as Russia’s Northern Fleet can threaten key supply chains including energy, food, undersea cables and transatlantic communication links.

British authorities have tracked the shadow fleet for years and stepped up planning after supporting a recent US-led seizure of the tanker Bella 1. Military and law enforcement teams have trained for various scenarios, including boarding resistant or heavily surveilled vessels.

Each operation will be assessed individually before approval, with potential criminal proceedings against owners, operators and crew for breaching UK sanctions laws.

Western estimates suggest around 75% of Russia’s crude oil exports are transported via the shadow fleet. The UK, alongside allies, has sanctioned more than 500 such vessels and is calling for greater coordination among JEF partners to expand enforcement efforts.

With inputs from agencies