British forces seize Russian shadow fleet tanker Smyrtos in English Channel
Quick Look
- British armed forces, including Royal Marine Commandos and National Crime Agency officials, have seized the Smyrtos tanker in the English Channel.
- The vessel, allegedly part of a Russian shadow fleet, is flying the flag of Cameroon and is being inspected for environmental and security risks near the island of Portland.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The British armed forces seized the Smyrtos tanker, which allegedly belongs to the Russian shadow fleet, in the English Channel. This operation involved Royal Marine Commandos and National Crime Agency officials.
LONDON, June 14. /TASS/. The British armed forces seized the Smyrtos tanker that allegedly belongs to the so-called Russian shadow fleet in the English Channel, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced in a joint statement with UK Ministry of Defense.
According to the statement, Royal Marine Commandos and National Crime Agency officials boarded the detained vessel as part of the first ever operation of this kind.
Open public sources state that the Smyrtos tanker is flying the flag of Cameroon. The 243-meter vessel is currently anchored near the British island of Portland in the English Channel off the coast of Dorset in the southwest of the country and is inspected for possible environmental risks or security threats.
There has been no information provided as of yet regarding the crew of the vessel.
Open Questions
- What is the status of the vessel's crew?
- What specific environmental or security risks are being investigated?
