Russia has dispatched a warship to accompany sanctioned vessels traversing the English Channel. The Admiral Grigorovich, a frigate from the Black Sea fleet, sailed alongside two shadow fleet ships on April 8, with a British naval vessel following behind. These ships, escorted by the warship, were en route to Plymouth.
In a previous development, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer granted special forces the authority to intercept ships illegally transporting oil to aid Russia’s operations in Ukraine. Despite warnings, no Russian vessels have been seized by the UK.
Recent reports revealed that the Universal, departing from a Russian port in January, aimed to deliver crude oil to bolster Kremlin finances but was prohibited in British waters. Similarly, the Cameroon-flagged Enigma, leaving another Russian port in March, was headed for Turkey and faced UK sanctions for funding the Kremlin.
Andrew Fox, a retired major in the Parachute Regiment, criticized Russia for attempting to embarrass Britain by maintaining oil supplies for the conflict in Ukraine. He emphasized the importance of cracking down on the shadow fleet ships to convey a strong message and potentially embarrass Putin.
To enforce sanctions, the Royal Navy and the National Crime Agency are considering deploying personnel to capture tankers under the 2018 legislation. Special forces like the Special Boat Service and SAS could seize tankers with armed guards, while the Royal Marines may board non-threatening vessels.
Moscow has issued warnings of retaliation if military action is taken to apprehend the ships.
