Vladimir Putin has dispatched a cargo ship suspected of carrying weapons through the English Channel, accompanied by a Russian warship for protection.
The Russian warship Admiral Grigorovich is leading a convoy of Russian vessels, including the 415ft Sparta, which has previously been associated with transporting military gear to Syria, off the southern coast.
The Sparta, reportedly en route to Port Said in northern Egypt, entered the Channel near Dover on Thursday morning.
Among the vessels traveling with the Sparta are the sanctioned tanker General Skobelev and the Akademik Pashin, a medium-sized refueling ship, as reported by the Telegraph.
This development follows Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s authorization for military action against vessels in Putin’s alleged clandestine fleet, suspected of evading sanctions by exporting oil globally to finance Russia’s activities in Ukraine.
Despite plans outlined last month by Mr. Starmer to allow special forces and National Crime Agency officials to intercept such vessels, no actions have been taken yet.
There are ongoing disputes within the government regarding the destination for captured tankers and the department responsible for associated costs.
The Sparta faced sanctions in May 2022 and has been connected to the ‘Syrian Express,’ a supply route used by Russian ships passing through the Bosphorus to assist the Assad regime.
